The Best Organized Food and Culinary Tours through Thailand

Which Tour Companies Offer Food and Culinary Tours?

A number of fantastic tour companies offer culinary tours in Thailand. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.

G Adventures

G Adventures is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Thailand, Peru, South Africa, and Vietnam. Many of their tours are priced in the mid-range category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, island hopping, snorkelling, surfing, wine tasting, kayaking, cooking classes, water sports, jungle surfing, and canyoning.

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Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Australia, Thailand, Tanzania, and Italy. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, wine tasting, snorkelling, kayaking, cooking classes, island hopping, white water rafting, surfing, horse riding, whale watching, and bird watching.

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Feel Free Travel

Feel Free Travel is a smaller international tour company with tours to 4 countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as surfing, snorkelling, island hopping, and cooking classes.

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Food and Culinary Destinations in Thailand

Wondering where food and culinary tours visit in Thailand? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.

Bangkok

Bangkok is the colorful capital city of Thailand. It is filled with temples and religious sights as well as shopping centers and markets. There is a network of canals and the Chao Phraya River is filled with boats. The city has many high end hotels as well as backpacker meccas and everything in between.

The city has many colorful markets, street food vendors, and a range of restaurants from casual to high end. The aroma and beautiful flavors of local dishes are a big part of the experience in this city. Dishes that you must try include Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong (shrimp soup), and Gaeng Daeng (red curry). Many foods are very spicy so make sure you order with "no spice" if that is your preference.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a cultural city that's located in the mountainous part of northern Thailand. The city has many temples, a famous night market, and a unique cuisine that is among the best in the country. Many visitors book treks into the countryside from Chiang Mai and the city has become a popular destination for digital nomads.

For many, this city offers some of the best food in all of Thailand. The cuisine is influenced by nearby Burma and China, with ginger and turmeric often used. Curries tend to be a bit milder and dishes are often served with sticky rice. Famous dishes around town include Khao Soi, Larb Kua, and Sai Oua. Cooking classes are also very popular around town and the courses often include a trip to a market.

Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is a city near the Ayutthaya Historical Park. It is only about 80 kilometers from Bangkok and makes and great day trip. It's a very popular tourist attraction, as the city served as the capital of Siam from 1350 until 1767. Today you'll find the impressive ruins of temples, palaces, and monasteries.

The local cuisine makes use of the area's freshwater fish, green vegetables, and river prawns. Dishes often include rice noodles and a spicy sauce. There are many restaurants that cater to the tourist crowds but still serve high quality dishes.

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is a town that is located on the River Kwai. It is the location of the notorious Death Railway Bridge, which was made famous by the movie "Bridge on the River Kwai". The line crosses the river, and visitors may walk or take a train across. There are also museums and cemeteries that allow visitors to learn and reflect on the dark past.

While food isn't the first thing that comes to mind here, you'll find markets with great street food as well as interesting riverside and floating restaurants. A local specialty that you should try is the gaeng paa pla khang (jungle curry). There are also western style restaurants if you need a break from the curry. Many visitors head to Mae Nam Khwae Road for most of their meals.

Food and Culinary Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons

Trying to determine whether to book a guided tour or manage your own travel itinerary? Consider the advantages and trade-offs of both approaches.

Organized Tours

Independent Travel

Which is cheaper?

Is independent travel cheaper than guided culinary tours? The answer is not simple. Tours provide many of the services that you would otherwise pay for yourself on an independent trip. Hotels, transportation, food, entry tickets, guides, and activities are provided on organized tours, whereas you would pay for everything separately on your own. To deterine the difference in price, you would need to compare the combined price of everything in a tour with everything you would book separately. Sometimes you might want to stay in a cheaper hotel, or eat at a more expensive restaurant, so the price of a tour could be more or less than what you would otherwise pay on your own. Make sure you know what is included before making your comparison.

Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.

More Tour Options

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 3-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Thailand, The Best Extended Trip Tours in Thailand, One Month or Longer, The Best Bicycle Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Thailand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Music Tours in Thailand, The Tours for Animal Lovers in Thailand, The Best Volunteering Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Safaris in Thailand, The Best Nightlife Tours in Thailand, The Best Religious Tours in Thailand, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, or The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Rai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 10-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 10-Day Tours from Chiang Rai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Bangkok, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Chiang Rai for more package tour options.