The Best Vegan Cooking Classes You Can Take While Traveling

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There’s eating well while you travel, and then there’s really understanding the food. Taking a vegan cooking class abroad is one of those experiences that hits different — you come away with actual skills, a deeper appreciation for the local culture, and recipes you’ll be recreating in your own kitchen for years. Plus, you’ll usually eat an incredible meal at the end. Win-win.

Whether you’re a seasoned plant-based traveler or just starting to explore what vegan travel looks like, cooking classes are honestly one of the most rewarding things you can add to any itinerary. I’ve rounded up some of the best options around the world so you can start planning.

Why Vegan Cooking Classes Are One of the Best Travel Experiences You Can Have

Let’s be real — a lot of travel activities feel a little surface-level. You see something beautiful, you take a photo, and you move on. A cooking class, especially a vegan one, actually pulls you into the culture in a way that a tour bus just can’t.

You’re in someone’s kitchen (or farm!), learning which local herbs and spices make a dish come alive, why certain techniques have been passed down for generations, and how plant-based food has always been central to so many cuisines around the world — even if they didn’t call it “vegan.” It’s hands-on, it’s social, and honestly? It’s just really fun.

There’s also something practical about it. You leave with real knowledge. You can actually make the food again. That’s a souvenir no airport gift shop can compete with. These are the kinds of unique travel experiences I seek out!

The Best Vegan Cooking Classes Around the World

1. Bali, Indonesia — Pemulan Bali Farm Cooking School (Ubud)

If you’re heading to Bali, this one is genuinely special. Pemulan Farm’s cooking school is set on an actual working organic farm about 30 minutes outside central Ubud. Their morning class includes a tour of the farm, where you get to harvest some of the ingredients you’ll be cooking with — you can literally pick things right out of the ground and snack as you walk around. Very much a vibe.

The school offers a dedicated vegan and vegetarian menu, so you won’t be working around anything. Dishes often include things like sweet-and-sour tempeh, gado-gado with homemade peanut sauce, coconut curry, and Balinese black rice pudding with coconut milk. Everything is cooked fresh from the farm, and the instructors genuinely know their stuff.

It’s also great value and very well-organized. If you’re solo, it’s easy to partner up with another traveler and make it a shared experience. If Bali is on your radar, don’t forget to grab your FREE Bali destination guide on my homepage!

Book via: pemulanbali.com Good for: Solo travelers, couples, foodies who want an immersive farm-to-table experience

2. Bali, Indonesia — Sayuri Healing Food Academy (Ubud)

If you want to go deeper — like, really deep — Sayuri Healing Food Academy in Ubud is in a class of its own (pun intended). They offer everything from half-day workshops to 13-day professional chef certifications. For travelers, the weekend intensives and half-day classes are a great entry point.

You’ll learn raw and cooked vegan cuisine, fermentation, raw desserts, vegan cheese-making, and more. The setting is stunning — surrounded by jungle and Bali’s unique spiritual energy — and the instruction is genuinely world-class. They’ve had internationally recognized chefs come through for masterclasses.

If you’re spending a week or two in Bali and want to go home with some serious plant-based cooking skills, this is your spot.

Book via: sayurihealingfood.com Good for: Travelers who want more than a single class; wellness-focused folks; anyone interested in raw cuisine

3. Bali, Indonesia — Kin Vegan Cooking Class (Seminyak)

For those staying in the Seminyak area rather than Ubud, Kin Vegan Cooking Class is a consistently well-reviewed option. The vibe is casual, welcoming, and fun — reviewers repeatedly call out how much they learned about Indonesian cooking culture while actually enjoying themselves.

You’ll work through traditional Balinese dishes, all fully vegan, with staff who make sure everyone feels comfortable and included. It’s the kind of class where you walk out genuinely excited to cook Indonesian food at home.

Find it: You can easily book this experience here — it’s located inside the Flea Market Utara in Seminyak. Good for: Travelers who want a fun, relaxed social experience with great food

4. Thailand — May Kaidee Cooking School (Bangkok & Chiang Mai)

May Kaidee is one of the OGs of vegan Thai cooking classes, and they’ve been at it for a long time — which means they’ve got the formula down. Classes run 365 days a year in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, which makes it incredibly easy to work into any Thailand itinerary.

There’s a solid variety of classes too, including standard Thai cooking instruction, tofu-making from scratch, soy milk and Thai desserts, fruit and vegetable carving (a traditional Thai art), and even an evening class that ends with a visit to a flower market or a Thai massage spa. You’re not just learning to cook — you’re getting a little cultural immersion along with it.

Book via: maykaidee.com Good for: Travelers who want flexible scheduling and variety; Thailand first-timers

5. Mexico City, Mexico — Aura Cocina Mexicana

Mexican food is one of the most naturally vegan-adaptable cuisines on the planet, and Aura Cocina Mexicana in Mexico City leans into that beautifully. Their dedicated vegan cooking class is a four-course hands-on experience that often includes a visit to a local market before you ever touch a pan.

You’ll learn how to use fresh chiles properly, make salsas from scratch, work with traditional ingredients in plant-based ways, and cook a full Mexican feast. The chefs are warm, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing their culture through food. Reviews consistently rave about how personal and engaging the experience feels, even for groups.

Classes are small — usually no more than 7 people — which means you’re actually cooking, not just watching.

Book via: auramexcooking.com or via Viator Good for: Anyone visiting Mexico City; couples; cultural food enthusiasts

6. Mexico City, Mexico — Casa Jacaranda

Another excellent Mexico City option is Casa Jacaranda, run by Beto and Jorge — a duo who’ve been cooking for guests for over a decade beneath their namesake jacaranda tree. They regularly host vegan guests and can fully adapt their traditional Mexican recipes to be plant-based without skipping on flavor or authenticity.

The setting is intimate and homey — you’re in their actual home — and that adds something really special to the experience. It’s the kind of class where you feel like a friend, not a tourist.

Book via: casajacaranda.mx Good for: Travelers who love an intimate, home-style cooking experience

7. Online — Veecoco (Great for Before or After Your Trip)

Okay, this one’s a little different — it’s not location-specific, but it deserves a mention because it’s honestly brilliant for travelers. Veecoco is an online platform with over 800 vegan cooking lessons from chefs around the world, and you can access it from anywhere. That means you can prep before your trip — learning Thai cooking basics before you land in Bangkok, for example — or keep the momentum going after you return home.

It’s self-paced, affordable, and covers an incredibly wide range of cuisines. If you fall in love with Balinese cooking in Ubud and can’t get enough when you get home, Veecoco’s got you.

Good for: Pre-trip prep; post-trip skill-building; travelers who want to keep learning on the road

How to Find Vegan Cooking Classes While Traveling

Not heading to one of the spots above? No worries — here are a few reliable ways to find vegan-friendly cooking classes no matter where you’re going:

Airbnb Experiences is one of the best places to look. Hosts often specify dietary options, and you can filter by “vegan” or message ahead to confirm. The vibe tends to be personal and local rather than touristy.

Cookly (cookly.me) is a dedicated cooking class booking platform with solid filters for vegan and vegetarian options. It covers destinations across Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Tripadvisor is useful for reading recent reviews on cooking classes in your destination. Search “[city] vegan cooking class” and check the “experiences” section.

Local Facebook groups and travel forums — like vegan Facebook groups for your specific destination — are goldmines. Real vegans who’ve been there will point you toward the best spots, including ones that don’t necessarily have a big online presence.

Tips for Making the Most of a Vegan Cooking Class Abroad

A few things I always keep in mind before booking:

Confirm “vegan” actually means vegan. Some places use the term loosely, especially in cuisines where fish sauce or eggs sneak into things. Don’t assume — message ahead and ask specifically. Something like: “Is this class fully plant-based, with no fish sauce, eggs, dairy, or honey?” works well.

Book early, especially in peak season. The best classes fill up fast, particularly in places like Ubud and Bangkok. Give yourself at least a few days of lead time, ideally more.

Go hungry. You’re going to eat a lot. That’s kind of the whole point.

Ask if you can take notes or photos of the recipes. Most classes encourage it, but it’s good to ask. You’ll want those recipe cards when you’re back home trying to recreate that gado-gado.

Don’t stress about skill level. The vast majority of cooking classes for travelers are designed for all skill levels. You don’t need to know how to dice an onion properly. That’s what the class is for.

Why Vegan Cooking Classes Are a Perfect Fit for Vegan Travelers

One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough in the world of vegan travel is how isolating it can sometimes feel. You’re navigating menus in a language you don’t speak, trying to explain your dietary needs, and hoping you didn’t just eat fish sauce again. It’s a lot.

A vegan cooking class flips that entirely. Suddenly, you’re surrounded by other people who care about plant-based food as much as you do. You’re not the odd one out — you’re the whole point. And you’re learning something real about the culture you’re visiting, not just observing it from the outside.

It’s one of my favorite things to recommend to clients, honestly. Whether you’re a solo traveler looking for a social experience or a couple wanting something more meaningful than a restaurant reservation, a cooking class delivers every time. Before you travel, check out my essential vegan travel guide!

Have a favorite vegan cooking class experience from your travels? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to hear about it!