4 Days Taste of Thailand Home-Style Cookery Holidays in Bangkok

Facilities

During this vacation, you will be staying in The Thai House. It is both unique and authentic. It embodies features representing the distinctive approaches found only in traditional Thai architecture, and at the same time, it fulfills its owners wish to be a welcoming, practical, and quiet haven for first-time guests and those who have stayed there many times over the years.

Importantly, the Thai House provides a peaceful escape from the bustle of the nation's capital, Bangkok, and is described by many visitors and guests as a calm, undisturbed oasis which allows them to relax and unwind. The three separate houses symmetrically linked together.

The first-floor layout consists of three separate houses symmetrically linked together consistent with the traditional practice of keeping extended families living and working together in the same compound to create the sense of belonging to the family. As one stands on the first-floor terrace with a view overlooking the orchard garden, the adjacent structures are no higher than the coconut palms. The tranquility and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape are both striking and mesmerizing.

Each house has two rooms which can be partitioned into two adjoining bedrooms by an optional opening door or a family suite. Five windows which open out onto the vast lush gardens and verdant orchards provide ventilation. The height of the ceiling also promotes the constant circulation of air thus eliminating the need for air-conditioning.

To combat humidity, electric fans create the gentle breezes needed to cool off the interior. Visitors consistently note the peaceful sleep they experience as they are awakened only by birdsong the next morning. Adjacent to the sleeping quarters is a separate room which serves as the Thai-style bathhouse. The bathroom is equipped with modern western-style facilities. On the lower floor, there is ample indoor dining hall for banquet-style seating for 30 to 50 persons, and the Thai House does receive visitors for lunch.

The main themes covered in courses are soups, salads, curry pastes, and curried stir-fried dishes, and decorative fruit and vegetable carving. To ensure productive session and so all participants enjoy positive learning and dining experiences, the maximum class size is limited to 10 participants per session.

What is remarkable is that once you have completed a three-day course at the Thai House cookery school, you will be able to prepare an entire, authentic, and original dinner menu of your own.

During this vacation, an excursion to a traditional, local open-air market is part of the overall learning experience so you will learn how and which fresh ingredients to select yourself. Discussion during the course also offers fascinating insights into Thai traditions. Pip can also organize Thai cooking class for those who are vegetarian or have a dietary requirement.

Daily schedule

Morning classes start at 10:00 a.m. and the afternoon classes start at 2:00 p.m. Cooking classes are held in the family kitchen amidst an orchard of mango, banana, papaya, and coconut trees, and a kitchen garden growing the fresh herbs and spices used in cooking school recipes and the food you will enjoy during your stay.

Lessons, which are conducted in English, feature brief lectures, ingredient preparation, hands-on cooking demonstrations, and time for questions and discussion. What follows afterward is that everyone literally enjoys the fruits of their success by eating in the relaxed environment of The Thai House.

Daily itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, cooking class

• Pick up from Bangkok and transfer to The Thai House
• An introduction to Thai herbs and spices
• Dinner
• Overnight

Day 2: Market visit, cooking class

• Visit the local open-air market in the early morning to buy ingredients
• Back to the Thai House for breakfast and start the morning class
• Dinner
• Overnight

Day 3: Cooking class

• Breakfast
• Cooking class
• Dinner
• Overnight

Day 4: Departure

• Relax and breakfast
• Transfer back to Bangkok

The Thai House Homestay & Cooking Classes is located in Bang Yai in Nonthaburi Province some 25 kilometers from central Bangkok - a short distance but a very distinctive difference from the city itself. This is a residential town that has both modern touch and greenery area where Chao Praya River acts as a divider of these totally different characteristics.

The hustle and bustle of busy life spread only until the eastern bank of Chao Praya River. Once crossing the river to the western bank, you can feel the peace and enjoy the green view. The Thai House is located on this side. It is also close to Grand Palace area. Everything guests might need is close at hand including international supermarkets, as well as typical markets.

Nearby places

• Bang Wa Sky Train station - 19 kilometers
• Bangkok downtown (MBK shopping center) - 25 kilometers
• Chatujak Weekend Market, 25 kilometers
• China Town, 23 kilometers
• Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) - 33 kilometers
• Khao San Road - 20 kilometers
• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) - 55 kilometers
• The Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha - 20 kilometers

You will be served breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Sample menu

Day 1

• Kaeng Ka-Ri Kai - Yellow chicken curry
• Larb Moo - A spicy Thai pork salad
• Paneang Nua - Coconut beef curry
• Phad Thai - Thai fried noodles
• Tom Yam Kung - Hot and sour prawn soup

Day 2

• Kaeng Kai Sai Normai - Chicken in red curry with bamboo shoots
• Kaeng Kheo Waan Neua - Green beef curry
• Phad Phrik Khing Moo/Kai - Savoury stir-fried pork or chicken with long beans
• Tom Khaa Kai - Coconut and galangal soup

Day 3

• Kai Phad Khing - Chicken fried with ginger
• Nam Phrik Ong - Pork and tomato chili dip vegetable and fruit carvings
• Phad Pak Ruam Mit - Stir-fried prawn with mixed vegetables
• Preaw Waan Moo - Sweet and sour pork
• Tom Jeud Fak - Clear melon soup

• Go on a tour to the local khlongs, it is an exotic tour to say the least, where life has not changed for centuries
• Go shopping in the city, it is wonderful, especially when you can return to the peace at the Thai House
• Participate in Thai festivals with the locals, give alms to the monks, and go to the local temples
• Take a long-tail boat to go to or return home from Bangkok (45 minutes of unique adventure)
• Visit the floating market, temples, pottery island - those that are beyond the reach of most tourists
• Visit the local plant nurseries and learn about tropical plants
• Visit the Grand Palace (most important attraction in Bangkok) which is only 20 minutes away by taxi

• Thai homestyle cooking classes
• Traditional market visit in the morning
• Learn to prepare full Thai dinner menu
• Brief lectures, participate in cooking preparation
• Daily home-cooked Thai meals
• Transfer by van and boat to and from Bangkok
• All ingredients and utensils
• 3 nights accommodation

• Additional excursions and activities

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Transfer from and to any of these airports is not included. The price for transfer from Suvarnabhumi airport /Don Mueng airport is 1,200 BHT for two persons and 1,300 BHT for three persons and more.

Arrival by bus

By arrangement, guests can be transported by car or mini-bus to and from the Thai House from either of Bangkok's airports, its main railway stations, bus depots, or hotels.

Arrival by ferry / boat

Shuttle boat from The Thai House to a public pier where you can get on a long-tailed boat to Bangkok is 100 BHT with advanced booking only. Arrangements can also be made for guests to travel by boat in both directions on the majestic Chao Praya River providing very different perspectives of Bangkok and its surrounds.

Arrival by train

With sky train system, guests of The Thai House has a fast, trouble-free, air-conditioned route into all major areas of Bangkok. Bang wa Station (sky train Silom line) is the nearest station to get to Sukhumvit area. It is 20 minutes away by car. Talad Bangyai Station (sky train - purple line) is the nearest station to get to Jatujak Weekend Market. It is 15 minutes away by car.

• A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.