Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School
Book this one if you want the full day rather than a quick hour at a wok. It starts with hotel pickup, then a walk through a fresh market with your instructor, who talks you through the herbs, vegetables and aromatics before you buy anything. That part matters more than people expect. Knowing what makrut leaf smells like next to lemongrass changes how you cook the rest of the day.
From there it's a short drive out of the city to a farm kitchen set in gardens, with individual cooking stations and staff who clear each one down between courses. Reviewers keep using words like serene and spa-like, and they keep naming their instructors: Bo, Luna and Ally all come up again and again for patience and easy-to-follow teaching. You'll work through four courses hands-on, and the volume of food at the end is generous. Nobody leaves hungry.
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Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School, round out your day in Chiang Mai with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
This was a superb experience! From the moment we were collected from our hotel, our cooking guide Luna shared her enthusiasm and knowledge with such positive energy! We headed to a wonderful market where Luna showed us the herbs and vegetables we would be cooking with, describing their tastes, scents and how they balanced and enhanced each meal! On arrival at the cooking school I was blown away by the beauty of this oasis just a short drive outside of the city! There are numerous cooking stations all set within the most beautiful gardens! Luna's English is perfect and easy to understand and her cooking guidance is clear snd simple to follow! We all got to choose the dishes we wanted to cook and were given an ebook containing every recipe to take home! We had great fun cooking, eating, making new friends abd dancing to the background music! Come hungry and leave full! I was so inspired that I got dropped off at the market where I bought a new wok and a big chopping knife so I can impress my friends and family with my newly acquired cooking skills! A really fun and informative morning that i recommend 💯!!!
This was the most organized tour I have ever booked. It was so convenient having the hotel pick up and then you get to see a local market. Once we got to the farm, it was gorgeous and relaxing. It was nice we got a few minutes for the bathroom and photos before the class started. We had the amazing Bo as our Chef and instructor. She was so nice and detailed with the cooking directions. We made 4 courses and it was so delicious! The staff working would immediately clean up each station and prep the ingredients so we got to do the fun part. The music and atmosphere was really fun too. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone visiting Chiang Mai and I hope you get to experience this cooking class with Bo.
Amazing Thai cooking experience and the food was delicious and tons of it! The market walk was interesting and fun to learn about the ingredients but making the food was the best! Bo was our instructor. She made it so fun! She was very patient and her style of instruction was easy to follow. Highly recommend! The grounds of the cooking school was spa like and serene. Definitely would do again! Bo was the best!
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 4,417 reviews on Google.
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Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School worth visiting?
Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School holds a 5.0★ rating from 4,417 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated activities & tours in Chiang Mai.
What are the opening hours of Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School?
Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School is typically open 07:00-22:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School?
The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: March – May (smoke & heat).
Where is Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School located?
Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School is at ตลาดสมเพชร Somphet Market(Mingmuang Market 7 Mun Mueang Rd, Tambon Si Phum, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city centre).
Location Info
ตลาดสมเพชร Somphet Market(Mingmuang Market 7 Mun Mueang Rd, Tambon Si Phum, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand+66 93 267 9572zabb-elee-cooking.com/Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – October
Avg. temperature
15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)
Getting there
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.
Getting around
- •Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
- •Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)
Where to stay near Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School
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Tips for Visiting Activities & Tours
Vet Elephant Sanctuaries
Only visit sanctuaries that prohibit riding, use no chains or bullhooks, and let elephants roam freely. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai set the standard. If a place offers painting shows or circus tricks, walk away.
Book Popular Activities Online
Booking platforms like GetYourGuide give you instant confirmation and, on many activities, free cancellation — and you can read recent reviews before committing. Compare with local agencies for multi-day trips where negotiation might save more.
Do Outdoor Activities in the Morning
Heat and humidity peak from noon to 3 PM. Schedule jungle treks, cycling tours, and outdoor cooking classes for early morning. Water activities are more flexible since you're in and out of the sea.
Nearby Places
Ethical elephant sanctuary chiangmai by Big Boy
No riding, no shows, just feeding elephants and learning why that matters.
The Big Old Tree
A remarkably large ancient tree just outside the north-east corner of Chiang Mai's historic moat.
Thailand Mountain Trail
Guided multi-day treks and day hikes into northern Thailand's mountains, forests, and hill tribe villages.
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School
Market trip, farm tour and five or six dishes you cook yourself, and 4.5 hours goes faster than you'd think.
Similar Activities & Tours Across Thailand
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket
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Safari World
A full day out east of the city, and the shows are what people remember most.
Nongnooch Pattaya Garden
Half a day minimum, 500 acres of themed gardens and dinosaurs, and you'll want to be there by 8am.
Lumphini Park
Bangkok's green lung, free to enter, and full of water monitor lizards the size of your leg.
Where to stay near Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School
Find hotels in Chiang Mai on the booking sites travellers trust most.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
Bundle & save
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Location Info
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – October
Avg. temperature
15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)
Getting there
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.
Getting around
- •Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
- •Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)