Chiang Mai CASA DE MANGO Full-Day All Inclusive Cooking Class & Elephant Sanctuary Experience

It was absolutely fantastic! In the morning, our cooking instructor, Teacher Song, first took us to a local market where we sampled some unique local fruits. After about a 40-minute drive, we arrived at his kitchen and mango farm. His farm was beautifully decorated. He started by offering us herbal tea made from spices he grew himself, then gave us a tour of his tropical spice garden. We tasted and learned a lot about Thai spices. We chose four dishes to cook. Song was incredibly enthusiastic, cheerful, and very patient. He even knew the Chinese names for some of the spices, which helped us better understand the cooking process. As soon as we arrived, he and his sister started taking photos to document our experience, and later sent them to us. His kitchen was exceptionally clean, and the food we made was delicious. During our lunch break, he even set up hammocks for us to relax in. It felt amazing, like being in the middle of a jungle. In the afternoon, he took us to an elephant sanctuary. There, we met a guide who spoke excellent Chinese. He told us about the elephants' habits, and then we carried sugarcane to feed them. It was so interesting when their trunks touched the sugarcane. They were also quite timid! Afterwards, we bathed the elephants. Finally, the driver took us back to our hotel. It was truly a perfect and wonderful day!

This itinerary was absolutely perfect! I've been to over 10 countries and taken many tours, but this one comes close to a perfect score. The cooking class wasn't just about cooking; it took you into the farm to learn about each herb used, from its source to preparing the food. Every step provided an excellent experience. And you don't wait until everything is cooked to eat; you get to taste each dish at its freshest. The portions were just right, and the overall atmosphere was very comfortable. Everything at the mango farm was perfect! 😍 The elephant sanctuary was also excellent because their elephants return to the forest every day to sleep and eat. They are free and only come down the mountain during the day to interact with visitors. The process always respects the elephants' wishes; they are not forced to eat or go into the water.

song casa de mango. Their farm is so nice full of flowers and herbs. you can taste freshly picked fruits herbal tea and other veggies. The chef is amazing friendly and very experienced. you will learn to cook, thai culture and thai words as a bonus. very affordable and worth it. they dont rush u and u can also rest after eating . elephant interaction is also great have free food dinner thank you so much.

This morning, we first visited the local fresh market. Our instructor, Ms. Sonya, was warm and polite, providing a detailed introduction to the main spices used in Thai cuisine and explaining the ingredients and sauces we would be using in class. The cooking school's facilities were practical and included its own garden. We also joined the instructor to pick the ingredients for our class. Today, I learned to cook Green Curry Chicken, Thai Cashew Chicken, and Pad Thai. In the afternoon, we took a car to an elephant sanctuary, which is an elephant-friendly park. The elephants were adorable, especially Nana, a 5-year-old female. She behaved like a child, playfully soliciting food and interaction from visitors and staff. The sanctuary thoughtfully provided bottled water, Pad Thai, and delicious fruit for everyone. Travelers from all over the world mingled and connected. I would highly recommend this activity to everyone.

If you’re trying to decide between experiences, this is your sign to just book this one. Sonya and Song helped us out during our whole day tour and everything was so well curated, fun, and informative too. We visited a market, the beautiful casa de mango farm, prepared a whole Thai menu, and then played with the elephants. Super grateful to have made such beautiful memories because of them!! thank you :)

I had a fun and fulfilling day. I was told that I was only the second Japanese person to participate in this tour. In the morning, Somya, the cooking class instructor, picked me up from my hotel and we headed to the market. At the market, I learned about ingredients commonly used in Thai cuisine. It seemed like I could also buy breakfast there. When we arrived at Casa de Mango, I was served welcome tea. I was given a tour of the garden, and I put herbs, spices, and vegetables in a basket. In the cooking class, I could choose some of the menu items, and when I told them I wasn't used to spicy food, they adjusted the menu for me. I made 5 dishes in a hygienic environment and enjoyed them while talking with the other tour participants and Somya. Water and coffee after the meal were also provided. If I couldn't finish eating, I could take it home. After lunch, I took a nap in the hammock in the garden and it felt great. I felt that the Elephant Sanctuary was a place where elephants could be as free as possible. First, I was given a change of clothes and changed in the restroom. After listening to what kind of elephants there were, and points to keep in mind (don't stand directly behind the elephant, don't stand in front of its face when it is eating corn stalks, don't force it to touch its face, how to give snacks, older elephants are more accustomed than younger elephants, etc.), I moved to the riverside area with a bag of snacks (sugar cane), one for each person. I gave the snacks while following the instructions of the elephant mahout. They also took pictures and videos. After that, I followed the elephant mahout and gave snacks to the elephants in the forest area and watched their様子. I took a break and got some cold water. Then I helped the elephants bathe (optional, depending on the elephant's mood). Finally, Khao Soi, watermelon, and pineapple were prepared (style where you take what you want). What to bring: insect repellent spray, jacket (the van for transportation has air conditioning), sandals and towel (if you want to help with the elephant bathing)

Our tour guide was very enthusiastic and friendly, and even helped us take many photos. The cooking class instructor was great at creating a fun atmosphere and provided detailed explanations of the ingredients. The food we cooked was delicious, and there was even a nap time; the whole experience was very enjoyable. Feeding and bathing the elephants was truly a rare and unforgettable experience. It was clear that the entire park takes great care of and protects the elephants; they were able to roam freely and were very gentle. The park staff and our tour guide kept taking photos for us, which was wonderful!

Participated in Klook's Chiang Mai CASA DE MANGO cooking class (Mango House) (in English) and the Elephant Sanctuary experience (available in both Chinese and English). Experience Recommendation 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I booked a cooking class + elephant sanctuary day trip through the travel platform. In the morning, the driver will pick you up from the hotel. A nine-seater van shuttles between the various hotels in the old city. After getting on the bus, the tour guide will ask you what dishes you want to make today (spring rolls, Thai curry, Pad Thai, stir-fried vegetables, and dessert). Mango sticky rice was originally available for dessert, but we were told that mangoes are not currently in season, so we could only make banana coconut milk. We stopped at a market midway (about a 30-minute drive) to introduce the ingredients to be used that day and some local delicacies and sauces (stop for about 20 minutes), then headed to Mango House (about a 40-minute drive). If you need to use the restroom, you can tell the tour guide and they will arrange it for us. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Chef MR. Song, the owner of Mango House and the tour guide's brother. He is very cheerful and humorous, and his laughter can be heard throughout the farm! What catches the eye is a mango tree area covering about half a "jia" (a unit of area) plus a piece of organic spice farmland. The main building is located in the center and is an open-air Southeast Asian wooden building with a large table and a personal, small cooking table. First, the chef presented pandan tea in the mango garden and introduced the origin of Mango House. He also wrote our Thai names on our hands, which made it easier for the staff to remember everyone's names. Afterwards, we went to the organic farmland, and the chef introduced us to various spices one by one, and kept telling us to try them. Don't be silly and try them all, because their spices have special flavors! Then we started cooking. The cooking process is very simple. Don’t worry if you can’t cook. The chef will patiently guide us. However, the finished product has the unique sweet and salty taste of the locals. I tried to reduce the seasoning in the middle, but I failed 😂. After the cooking is over, the staff will help with plating and arrange fresh flowers. We enjoyed the fresh air while eating the dishes we cooked ourselves, and the mood was wonderful. After enjoying lunch, we laid on the hammocks specially prepared by the owner and enjoyed the sunbathing. It was very pleasant! During our time at Mango House, the owner and tour guide thoughtfully took photos for us. As long as you add his WhatsApp, the photos will be sent to you~ After the lunch break, we got on the bus and spent about 40 minutes heading to the Elephant Sanctuary. There are dedicated Chinese-speaking guides here who can communicate without pressure. In addition to learning about the history of these elephants, you can also learn about their habits and how to interact with them in a friendly way. The only shortcoming is that the cooking class requires some basic English skills, otherwise you will miss the chef's humorous explanations. If you don't understand, don't worry too much. They will do their best to make you understand, and body language also works~ If you want to buy a tour, I highly recommend CASA DE MANGO's cooking class.

I highly recommend this to everyone! It's not commercialized at all; it feels like visiting a friend's home. The emotional value and experience are top-notch. The farm environment is excellent and very clean, perfect for photos. The instructor explained everything patiently. At noon, they even set up hammocks for us to nap in, which was cool and comfortable. The elephant sanctuary in the afternoon was also great; we fed and bathed the elephants, and everyone had a fantastic time! 😜

Chef Song from Casa de Mango was truly amazing! So enthusiastic and funny. He provided a lot of explanations about different herbs and gave a great tour of the herb garden. This was a truly wonderful experience. The elephant sanctuary was also superb! There were 4 elephants at the moment, one of whom was pregnant. We were able to feed them, which was a special experience.