Farm visits · COOKING CLASSES
The good ones start in the garden and end at a table with what you picked. These 15 classes are priced and honest about how much you cook rather than watch, how long the market run adds, and whether the recipes come home with you.
Visit a local market and Smile Organic Farm, then cook curry paste, curry, stir-fry, soup, and spring rolls with guides such as Lily, Love, K, or Cici. You choose dishes and spice levels, work at your own station, and eat what you make.
“Great experience with Lily- learning about thai cuisine, fun cooking, visiting organic farm and communal eating! Highly recommended!”
Join Luca and Erika for a seven-hour food day from Florence. Shop for Tuscan ingredients at San Lorenzo Market, ride to a farmhouse in the hills, make pasta, bruschetta, roast pork, and tiramisu, then eat with local wine. Recipes and a cooking diploma are included.
“Our family of 5 had THE BEST time at this cooking class experience with Luca and Erika! We got to sample cheeses and learn about Italian products on the market tour, enjoy beautiful sights at the Tuscan villa, cook 4 courses, and drink Chianti Classico wine! We could not recommend this experience more. Luca was hilarious, and Erika was so kind and encouraging. Both taught us so much about Italian cuisine and made the experience very entertaining. If we could give more than 5 stars, we would.”
Spend 3.5 to 7 hours with Grandma’s Home Cooking School, meeting guides such as Kiki, Jimmie, Patty, and Roger. Visit a market and organic farm, collect eggs, make curry paste, and cook dishes including Pad Thai, Tom Yum, Green Curry, and Khao Soi.
“I did the afternoon/evening class and I definitely would recommend!! Was such a good class and had loads of fun learning how to make Thai classics. Shoutout to our teacher Jimmy who was hilarious! Also the cooking school itself is such a nice atmosphere and well organised. 10/10”
Start with a Ubud shuttle and, for morning sessions, a local market visit. At Bali Farm Cooking School, guides such as Buda, Depi, and Wayan lead you through the organic garden, ingredient picking, and six-dish Balinese or vegetarian cooking class.
“The day started off with a lovely little stroll through the local market, our guide and cooking instructor Depi was very knowledgeable with all the different kinds of local fruit and vegetables, as well as spices. We then had a tour around their farm, which they grow as much produce as they can, and if not, they get their ingredients from the local market. We were given a little breakfast which consisted of fresh fruit and cake. The cooking class as a whole was very enjoyable - in total we made 6 dishes (2 appetisers, 3 mains and 1 dessert), very very filling!! All in all, the day was a…”
Spend four hours with an English-speaking chef such as Nook, Pam, Tida, Mai, or Blue, visiting a local market, touring Mama Noi’s organic garden, and cooking your choice of Thai dishes. You will eat what you make and take home a recipe book and class certificate.
“The best cooking class i have been yet. The class was very organized and we had the opportunity to cook several dishes. Totally recommend this class!”
At Amalfi Heaven Gardens, you’ll tour terraced lemon, olive, and grape gardens, pick seasonal produce, then cook and eat a multi-course Amalfi meal. The English-speaking team, including hosts such as Hugo, Ugo, Silvio, and Gabriel, keeps the four-hour class lively, practical, and social.
“It was the best tour we signed up so far. We drank, laughed and had lots of fun. It was the highlight of our Rome and south Italy trip.”
Start with hotel pickup and a guided market visit, then cook five Thai dishes at the Rice Barn with instructors such as Katie, Oily, Timi, or Gobby. You get your own station, prepared ingredients, an open-air farm setting, plenty to eat, and a recipe e-book to take home.
“Communication prior to trip was first class. What a fantastic day from the start to finish. The stop at the market was super interesting. Being on the river farm was great. The farmers were in the fields preparing the soil for the sticky rice. We had two great instructors Koppi and Katie. They were fantastic and full of enthusiasm, really engaging and explained things well. The food we cooked was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Thank you :-)”
Meet your guide at your Chiang Mai hotel, visit a local market, tour Mama Noi’s organic garden, then cook a full Thai meal at your own station. Instructors such as Nook, Tida, Pam, and Fern guide you through several dishes, Thai tea, and mango sticky rice. Vegetarian options are available.
“One of my favorite days in Thailand so far! You get to stop at the market first briefly before and then have a tour of their beautiful garden and get to try lots of the ingredients that you get you cook with and get to adjust the dishes to your tatse. The chef was very energetic and enthusiastic:) and to top it all off you get to bring home a little cook book and take home whatever you can't eat. Their team was very friendly, organized and efficient with the way they ran things as well.”
At Island Organics Thai Cooking Class, Chef Lat guides you through a farm visit and four hands-on Thai recipes in a purpose-built kitchen. Harvest herbs and vegetables, make curry paste, coconut cream, and a herbal drink, then eat what you cook. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.
“Absolutely brilliant day, well organised and all delicious food, fabulous to visit and hear all about the organic farm - Chef lat is passionate about what she does so great to be a part of that”
Start near central Ubud, visit a traditional market on the morning schedule, then gather produce at Pemulan Bali’s organic farm. In an open-air kitchen, you’ll prepare about six Balinese and Indonesian dishes with a local cooking team, then eat together with tea and coffee.
“We took a tour of the garden and selected our greens and herbs. Then, we cooked 2 appetizers, 3 main dishes and a community desert. The food quality and instructions were exceptional.”
Start with hotel pickup and a Somphet Market visit, then head to an organic farm for hands-on Thai cooking. Chef Perm and the teaching team guide you through curry paste, six dishes, papaya salad, and mango sticky rice before you eat your own meal.
“They picked me up from my hotel and then our group was driven to a market outside of Chiang Mai. It was a market for locals and very authentic. Our chef (Perm) showed us the different ingredients we would be using and had us smell various herbs/plants. He was so funRead more”
Meet your guide, often Luca or Erika, at Santa Maria Novella station for a market walk, ingredient tasting, and transfer to a Tuscan farmhouse. Make fresh pasta, ragù, bruschetta, roast pork, potatoes, and tiramisù, then eat with wine and take home recipes.
“It was perfect! So much fun! Luca and Erika made the day so amazing! It was a highlight of my trip! Don't miss this opportunity to make memories of a lifetime! Luca & Erika, I will never forget you!❤️Thank you for a most wonderful day! Erika, I loved singing Volare with you! You are so encouraging as a teacher and a person! Luca, Thank you for bringing fun into learning & cooking! The enthusiasm you bring to the table (no pun intended) is immeasurable!! You have sparked the cooking excitement & taught us all that cooking can be fun and creative! You two are the best! By the end of…”
Near Melanes, Nikos and his family guide you through animals, olive groves, potatoes, fruit trees, vineyards, and gardens before a hands-on wood-fire meal. Expect Naxian omelet, zucchini balls, cheese, potatoes, vegetables, wine, and a relaxed family setting.
“Farm tour is very hot and hilly/rocky - definately should dress/wear appropriate shoes. Thw dinner was fun- great to connect with other travellers and more than enough to eat!”
Meet Francesco, Nicola, Fabio, and the Amalfi Heaven Gardens team for a four-hour class above Amalfi. Tour lemon, olive, and grape terraces, pick seasonal produce, prepare a four-course meal, then relax with wine, limoncello, and espresso.
“Great activity to cook an authentic Italian meal with fresh ingredients! Views were amazing, we were able to pick the vegetables ourselves. Wine was included and it was a good way to meet other travelers! Francesco was a great host, humorous and extremely knowledgeable about food. He was able to speak about the ingredients and cooking process very intelligently and articulated everything is English very well. Easily my favorite activity we did while staying along the amalfi coast and speaks to the quality of the experience.”
Spend about five hours with an English-speaking chef and guide at Cocolocal Farm. Visit a local market, sample tropical fruit, ride a basket boat through Bay Mau coconut forest, then prepare dishes such as banh xeo, pho, papaya salad, and spring rolls in a small group.
“Was such an amazing experience. Must do in Hoi An!!! Food was delicious and was such a good way to learn about the culture. Would do again!”
Pick a crop, an animal or a kitchen.
