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

A perfect itinerary! I've been to over 10 countries and participated in many tours, but this one is close to a hundred percent. The cooking class isn't just about cooking; it takes you into the farm to understand the herbs used in each ingredient, from the source to the finished dish. Every step provides an excellent experience, and you don't wait until everything is cooked to eat. Instead, each dish is served for you to taste at its freshest. The portions are just right, and the overall atmosphere is very comfortable. Everything at the mango farm is perfect! 😍 The elephant sanctuary is 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 tourists. The process respects the elephants' wishes; they are not forced to eat or go into the water.

🤩The cooking experience at CASA DE MANGO🥭 was absolutely amazing! 1️⃣The super enthusiastic and lovely Uncle Song took us on a tour of the Mango House estate, introducing us to various spices. We picked and tasted them on the spot [playful]. 2️⃣Even abroad, we diligently cooked a meal. Actually, the estate staff prepared all the ingredients, and we made pre-made meals by hand [facepalm]. 3️⃣Uncle Song provided such great emotional value; he high-fived 🙌 and praised 👍 us for every dish we made, and even included his singing, dancing, and excellent cooking demonstrations. The whole process was incredibly joyful [jumping] (it was like watching a skit, he even gave us a theatrical performance haha). ✅The dozen or so of us picked, cooked, sang, and joked together. I truly experienced the "charm of a group portrait".

This morning, we first visited the local fresh market. Our instructor, Ms. Sonya, was warm and polite, providing detailed explanations of the main spices used in Thai cuisine and discussing the ingredients and sauces we would use in class. The cooking school's facilities were practical and included its own garden. We also joined the instructor in picking the ingredients for our class. Today, I learned to cook Green Curry Chicken, Thai Stir-fried 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 very cute, especially Nana, a 5-year-old female elephant. She acted like a child, playfully soliciting food and interaction from visitors and staff. The sanctuary thoughtfully provided bottled water, Pad Thai, and delicious fruits for everyone. Travelers from all over the world mingled and had a great time. 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 :)

The tour guide was very enthusiastic and friendly, and helped us take many photos. The cooking class instructor was great at creating a lively atmosphere and introduced the ingredients in great detail. The food we cooked was delicious, and there was even a nap time. The whole experience was very interesting. Feeding and bathing the elephants was truly a rare and unforgettable experience. It's clear that the entire park takes great care of and protects the elephants; they can roam freely and are very gentle. The park staff and tour guide kept taking photos for us, which was wonderful!

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

I highly recommend this to everyone; it's completely non-commercial, and 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 very patiently. At noon, they even set up hammocks for us to nap in, which was cool and pleasant. The elephant camp in the afternoon was also great; feeding and bathing the elephants, everyone had a fantastic time! 😜

Song Casa de Mango. Their farm is so lovely, full of flowers and herbs. You can taste freshly picked fruits, herbal tea, and other vegetables. The chef is amazing, friendly, and very experienced. You will learn to cook, about Thai culture, and some Thai words as a bonus. It's very affordable and worth it. They don't rush you, and you can also rest after eating. The elephant interaction is also great, and they offer a free dinner. Thank you so much.

I had a fun and fulfilling day. I was told I was the second Japanese person to join this tour. In the morning, Somya, the cooking class instructor, picked me up at the hotel, and we headed to the market. At the market, I learned about ingredients commonly used in Thai cuisine. It seemed possible to buy breakfast there too. Upon arriving at Casa de Mango, I was offered welcome tea. I was given a tour of the garden, where I put herbs, spices, and vegetables into a basket. For the cooking class, some menu items could be chosen, and when I mentioned I wasn't used to spicy food, they adjusted the menu for me. I cooked five dishes in a hygienic environment and enjoyed eating them while chatting with other tour participants and Somya. Water and after-meal coffee were also provided. If I couldn't finish the food, I could take it home. After lunch, napping in the garden hammock was incredibly pleasant. The Elephant Sanctuary felt like a place where elephants could live as freely as possible. First, I was given a change of clothes to put on in the restroom. After hearing about the elephants present and important precautions (don't stand directly behind an elephant, don't stand in front of an elephant's face when it's eating corn stalks, don't forcibly touch its face, how to give snacks, older elephants are more accustomed than younger ones, etc.), each person took a bag of snacks (sugarcane) and moved to the riverside area. We gave snacks following the mahout's instructions. They also took photos and videos for us. Afterward, we followed the mahout to give snacks to elephants in the forest area and observed them. We took a break and received cold water. Then, we helped bathe the elephants (optional, depending on the elephant's mood). Finally, Khao Soi, watermelon, and pineapple were prepared (self-serve style, take as much as you want). What to bring: insect repellent, a jacket (the transfer van is air-conditioned), sandals and a towel (if you want to help bathe the elephants).

Chef Song from Casa de Mango was truly amazing! So enthusiastic and funny. He gave a lot of explanations about different herbs and provided a great tour of the herb garden. This was truly a wonderful experience. The elephant sanctuary was also super! There were 4 elephants at the moment, 1 was pregnant. We were able to feed them, which was a special experience.