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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Khamlec (Alex)

Luang Prabang, Laos

USD
$50-$74 per person

Traditional Laotian cooking class in a local home

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Khamlec (Alex)

Alex was born into a huge family in Northern Laos, the youngest of all his siblings. His village is close to the China border, and he belongs to an ethnic group called Phou Noi. Alex did his initial schooling in Laos and then had the opportunity to study International Business Management (IBM) in Switzerland for six years. He missed eating home cooking while living abroad and that is when his culinary journey began. Once he returned home to Laos, he started working as a guide and now enjoys introducing travelers to the rich history and culture of his beautiful country.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-13 guests) The tradition in Alex’s home is that the man of the house does the cooking. He therefore inherited family recipes and cooking techniques from his father, which had been passed down from generation to generation, father to son. One very important cooking tip that his father gave him was to put your heart into each dish that you cook! Alex wants to share this love and passion for food with travelers. After an gaining an initial understanding of Laotian food and culture, join Alex to share a meal. The menu is seasonal - in the summer you might taste authentic dishes such as mok pa (fish fillets seasoned with chili paste, lemongrass and dill, wrapped in fresh banana leaves and steamed), lemongrass chicken or pork, a seasonal vegetable soup, Laotian-style eggplant. In the winter you might experience a seendat (Laotian barbecue) with meat, vegetables, thin rice noodles, clear broth and cheo suki (peanut and tamarind dipping sauce).

Cooking experience: (1-8 guests) Since Laotian cuisine is very aromatic, Alex had a separate kitchen and patio built outside the main house for cooking. Join Alex in his outdoor kitchen for a one-hour cooking demo, where he will demonstrate how to make traditional Laotian dishes that you will later enjoy during your meal.

Market visit: (1-8 guests) Explore the Phongsavanh Market, a 5-minute walk from Alex’s home. Here he will introduce you to local ingredients that you will later use in your cooking class. In Laos, markets are not only places where food and household goods are sold but also also hubs for the local community to share news from the town and other regions. This is a great place to witness the hustle and bustle of Luang Prabang daily life and interact with locals!

Notes: Pick up and drop-off from your central Luang Prabang hotel is included in the price of your booking. Please include your hotel name and address when creating your booking. Alex also runs his own travel company and would be happy to give you travel tips and help plan your itinerary.

Languages spoken: English,Thai, German, Swiss German

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Mok pa (fish filets seasoned in chili paste with lemon grass and fresh dill, wrapped and steamed in fresh banana leaves)
  • Lemongrass chicken or pork
  • Seasonal vegetable soup
  • Family-style eggplant
  • In winter only: Laotian barbecue with meat, vegetables, thin rice noodles and dipping sauce
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Alex was a very welcoming and hospitable host. He has great knowledge on Laos culture, cuisine and history. He exceeded many of my expectations and offered more than anyone could ask for. Alex is a very well organized host who offers many different activities one could get involved in. My favorite food item was having the sticky rice with the different sauces, they were both spicy but can be adjusted for a palette that may not be able to handle too much spice. It was very fresh and had a lot of flavor considering it was made from very few ingredients. I enjoyed the overall experience!

, Jessica, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Luang Prabang Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
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Khamlec (Alex)

$50-$74 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $50 $50 $50
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $68 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $50 $50 $50
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $68 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 6:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 8:00am-12:00pm 3:00pm-7:00pm

Meet Khamlec (Alex)

Alex was born into a huge family in Northern Laos, the youngest of all his siblings. His village is close to the China border, and he belongs to an ethnic group called Phou Noi. Alex did his initial schooling in Laos and then had the opportunity to study International Business Management (IBM) in Switzerland for six years. He missed eating home cooking while living abroad and that is when his culinary journey began. Once he returned home to Laos, he started working as a guide and now enjoys introducing travelers to the rich history and culture of his beautiful country.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-13 guests) The tradition in Alex’s home is that the man of the house does the cooking. He therefore inherited family recipes and cooking techniques from his father, which had been passed down from generation to generation, father to son. One very important cooking tip that his father gave him was to put your heart into each dish that you cook! Alex wants to share this love and passion for food with travelers. After an gaining an initial understanding of Laotian food and culture, join Alex to share a meal. The menu is seasonal - in the summer you might taste authentic dishes such as mok pa (fish fillets seasoned with chili paste, lemongrass and dill, wrapped in fresh banana leaves and steamed), lemongrass chicken or pork, a seasonal vegetable soup, Laotian-style eggplant. In the winter you might experience a seendat (Laotian barbecue) with meat, vegetables, thin rice noodles, clear broth and cheo suki (peanut and tamarind dipping sauce).

Cooking experience: (1-8 guests) Since Laotian cuisine is very aromatic, Alex had a separate kitchen and patio built outside the main house for cooking. Join Alex in his outdoor kitchen for a one-hour cooking demo, where he will demonstrate how to make traditional Laotian dishes that you will later enjoy during your meal.

Market visit: (1-8 guests) Explore the Phongsavanh Market, a 5-minute walk from Alex’s home. Here he will introduce you to local ingredients that you will later use in your cooking class. In Laos, markets are not only places where food and household goods are sold but also also hubs for the local community to share news from the town and other regions. This is a great place to witness the hustle and bustle of Luang Prabang daily life and interact with locals!

Notes: Pick up and drop-off from your central Luang Prabang hotel is included in the price of your booking. Please include your hotel name and address when creating your booking. Alex also runs his own travel company and would be happy to give you travel tips and help plan your itinerary.

Languages spoken: English,Thai, German, Swiss German

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Mok pa (fish filets seasoned in chili paste with lemon grass and fresh dill, wrapped and steamed in fresh banana leaves)
  • Lemongrass chicken or pork
  • Seasonal vegetable soup
  • Family-style eggplant
  • In winter only: Laotian barbecue with meat, vegetables, thin rice noodles and dipping sauce
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Alex was a very welcoming and hospitable host. He has great knowledge on Laos culture, cuisine and history. He exceeded many of my expectations and offered more than anyone could ask for. Alex is a very well organized host who offers many different activities one could get involved in. My favorite food item was having the sticky rice with the different sauces, they were both spicy but can be adjusted for a palette that may not be able to handle too much spice. It was very fresh and had a lot of flavor considering it was made from very few ingredients. I enjoyed the overall experience!

, Jessica, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Luang Prabang Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $50 $50 $50
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $68 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $50 $50 $50
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $68 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 6:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 8:00am-12:00pm 3:00pm-7:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.