For a weekend out of Bangkok, choose Khao Yai. It is about 2.5 hours by road, needs no flight and has a handful of strong courses. For a golf trip of five nights or more, choose Chiang Mai, where more than a dozen courses ring one valley about 30 to 45 minutes from town. Avoid Chiang Mai in March, when burning-season smoke settles over the valley.
We run golf trips on the ground in Chiang Mai, so read this with that bias in mind. We have tried to be fair. Khao Yai beats Chiang Mai on some trips, and we say so below.
Which is better for golf, Khao Yai or Chiang Mai?
Khao Yai suits short trips out of Bangkok. Chiang Mai suits golf weeks, because it offers more courses, more variety and a real city base.
Khao Yai is an upland area around Pak Chong, on the edge of the Khao Yai National Park, part of a forest complex listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005 (accessed 2026-10-30). The golf there is resort golf. You stay at or near a course, play, eat and sleep. The best-known layout is Kirimaya, a Jack Nicklaus design. Toscana Valley, Rancho Charnvee and Mountain Creek fill out most itineraries.
Chiang Mai is a city of about a million people with golf all around it. Within one valley you can play the region's best-conditioned course, a British links-style layout, a very long championship test and floodlit night golf, and then be eating khao soi in the Old City by 7pm. Our full ranking is in the best golf courses in Chiang Mai guide.
| Factor | Khao Yai | Chiang Mai |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from Bangkok | Road, about 1.5-2.5 hrs | Domestic flight to CNX, then 10-15 min to the Old City |
| Courses most visitors play | Around 4-6 (Kirimaya, Toscana Valley, Rancho Charnvee, Mountain Creek) | 10+ across the valley, plus Lamphun and Chiang Rai |
| Cool-season daytime temperature | About 25C (Golfasian) | 28-32C highs (CMGT Golf, 2026) |
| Transfer to course | Short if you stay on-site | About 30-45 min from the city |
| Off-course life | Wineries, national park, resort dining | Full city, temples, night markets, spas |
| Biggest weakness | Fewer courses, quiet evenings | Burning-season smoke, peaking in March |
| Best trip length | 2-3 nights | 4-7+ nights |
How long does it take to reach each destination?
Khao Yai courses are about 1.5 to 2.5 hours by road from Bangkok. Chiang Mai needs a domestic flight, but CNX sits about 4 km from the Old City.
Golfasian's Khao Yai guide gives the region as "a 2.5-hour drive northeast of Bangkok" (accessed 2026-10-30). Their package page puts individual courses closer: Rancho Charnvee at about 1.5 hours, and Kirimaya, Toscana Valley and Mountain Creek at about 2 hours each. Bangkok traffic decides which figure you get. A Friday afternoon exit can add an hour, so many groups leave early on Saturday instead and play an afternoon round on arrival.
For Chiang Mai, the flight is only part of the journey. Once you land, it is a 10 to 15 minute taxi into town (฿150-200), and courses are roughly 30 to 45 minutes from the city. North Hill is about 15 minutes from the airport, and Lanna Golf Club is about 10 minutes from the Old City. Our Chiang Mai airport transfer guide covers the details.
Is Khao Yai actually cooler than Chiang Mai?
From November to February, Khao Yai's afternoons can run a few degrees milder. Chiang Mai's early tee times are just as cool, and both beat Bangkok.
Golfasian lists Khao Yai's cool-dry season (November to February) at around 15C in the morning and 25C by day (accessed 2026-10-30). In Chiang Mai over the same months, we see 15 to 22C at an early tee time on the highland courses, rising to highs of 28 to 32C (CMGT Golf, 2026). December and January are the coolest months in both places.
In practice, a 7am tee time in Chiang Mai in December plays in sweater weather for the first six holes. By 1pm you are in 30C sunshine. At Khao Yai the afternoon heat is a little gentler. If heat is your main concern, that difference matters. For most golfers playing a morning round, it does not.
The rainy season is similar in both places. From June to October, expect humidity and afternoon storms, with mornings usually playable. Low cloud can also sit over Khao Yai's higher courses on wet mornings, which slows play but rarely stops it.
What does the burning season mean for this choice?
It is Chiang Mai's biggest weakness. From late February to mid-April, smoke builds, peaks in March, and AQI regularly passes 150.
Chiang Mai's air is excellent from November to early February and poor in March. On the worst spring days, PM2.5 readings climb to levels that are unhealthy for everyone, and the city regularly ranks among the most polluted in the world. We do not book March golf trips in Chiang Mai without warning the client first. Full details are in our burning season golf in Chiang Mai guide.
Khao Yai is not in the northern valley where the smoke collects. That said, Thailand's dry-season haze is a regional problem, so do not assume any upland destination is clean in March. Check IQAir's Chiang Mai readings (accessed 2026-10-30) and the nearest station to your Khao Yai resort before you commit.
How do green fees compare?
Both destinations are good value by world standards. Chiang Mai's green-season all-in rates run about ฿1,950 to ฿3,700. Khao Yai fees are less consistently published, so confirm at booking.
Chiang Mai's clearest numbers are the April to October 2026 green-season all-in rates (green fee, caddie and cart):
Khao Yai courses mostly publish fees as varying "by season and day", and third-party listings are often undated, so treat any figure you find online as a rough guide and confirm the actual rate when you book. As at most Thai resort courses, expect the caddie fee and tip to sit on top of the green fee, and weekend rates to run higher than weekdays.
The Chiang Mai green season ends on 31 October. From 1 November, high-season rates are higher and tee times are harder to get. Do not count on the figures above for a December trip. For a full breakdown by course, see our cart and caddie fees guide.
Which destination has the better courses?
Kirimaya is Khao Yai's best course. Chiang Mai has more depth, with three or four courses that each justify a dedicated round.
At Khao Yai, Kirimaya is the headline round: a Nicklaus layout beside the national park. Toscana Valley is known for demanding holes and dramatic hillside views. Rancho Charnvee is the closest to Bangkok and the easiest to fit into a short trip. Mountain Creek offers 27 holes, so groups can vary their loop over two days.
Chiang Mai has more to choose from:
- Chiang Mai Highlands: Lee Schmidt design (2005), 27 holes, paspalum, 130+ bunkers, the best-conditioned course in the region.
- Alpine Golf Resort: Ron Garl design (2008), with a very long par-5 4th, an island-green par 3 and professional tournament pedigree.
- Royal Chiang Mai: a Peter Thomson design with genuine British links character, pot bunkers and run-offs.
- Gassan Panorama: one of the longest layouts in the north, with a par 6 that tests even long hitters.
To be fair to Khao Yai: not every Chiang Mai course is in top shape. Conditions at Summit Green Valley and Mae Jo are inconsistent, and we tell clients that before they book. Pick your rounds well and the best of Chiang Mai is better than the best of Khao Yai. Pick badly and it is not.
Caddies are standard at both destinations. In Chiang Mai, most are local women who know every green's break, and many speak enough English to read a putt with you. Book an early tee time in high season, because the best courses fill first.
What do packages cost in each?
Market bundles land in a similar range. Golfasian lists Khao Yai-Bangkok at ฿28,000 for 9D/8N and Chiang Mai at ฿24,700 for 7D/6N.
| Package (Golfasian published) | Length | Rounds | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khao Yai-Bangkok 2-destination | 9D/8N | 6 | ฿28,000 |
| Chiang Mai Golf Break | 3D/2N | Varies | ฿8,500 |
| Chiang Mai Holiday | 5D/4N | Varies | ฿19,500 |
| Chiang Mai week | 7D/6N | Varies | ฿24,700 |
| Chiang Mai-Bangkok | 9D/8N | Varies | ฿35,470 |
These are competitor prices, included to show the market. Golfasian's Khao Yai bundle covers hotels, green fees, caddies and private van transfers. Our Chiang Mai trips cover green fees, caddies, carts, hotels, a private driver, airport pickups and on-the-ground support. We work by enquiry: you tell us your dates, we send a quote, and a deposit confirms it. See our Chiang Mai golf packages for the current range.
Packages do not always pay off. For one round, booking direct can be cheaper. Our direct vs agent booking guide shows where the savings start.
Can you combine Khao Yai and Chiang Mai?
Yes, by routing through Bangkok. Expect to spend about one day on transfers, so it only makes sense on trips of nine nights or more.
There is no practical direct road route for golfers. The usual plan is: arrive in Bangkok, drive to Khao Yai for two or three rounds, return to Bangkok, then fly to Chiang Mai. Our Bangkok stopover guide covers the Bangkok part of the trip.
On a five-night trip, we advise against it. You lose a day in vans and departure lounges for the same number of rounds you could play from one base. Our Highlands Classic plays four rounds in five nights without moving hotels. For a longer trip, the Lanna Signature covers five rounds over seven nights.
Which should you pick for your trip?
For two or three nights from Bangkok, go to Khao Yai. For four nights or more, a mix of courses and a city base, go to Chiang Mai, outside March.
| Your situation | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend from Bangkok, 2 rounds | Khao Yai | No flight, home Sunday night |
| First Thailand golf week, 4-5 rounds | Chiang Mai | Course variety, city evenings |
| December to early February | Chiang Mai | Peak conditions, clear air |
| March travel only | Khao Yai or the coast | Chiang Mai smoke peaks |
| Non-golfing partner | Chiang Mai | Temples, markets, spas, cooking classes |
| Heat is your main concern | Khao Yai, slightly | Milder cool-season afternoons |
Chiang Mai is the place for a dedicated golf trip. For timing, read the best time for golf in Chiang Mai. For a short trip north, the Weekend Warrior fits three rounds into three nights. To plan your rounds, start with our best golf courses in Chiang Mai ranking.
Get a quote for your Chiang Mai golf tripTee times, caddies, hotel and private driver included. Send us your dates and we will reply with a quote.Frequently asked questions
Is Khao Yai or Chiang Mai better for a golf holiday?
It depends on how long you have and where you land. Khao Yai is about 2.5 hours' drive northeast of Bangkok, so it works well for a weekend with no domestic flight. Chiang Mai has a larger, more varied set of courses ringing one valley, with transfers of about 30 to 45 minutes from the city, so it suits trips of five nights or more with four or five rounds. If you are spending a week, Chiang Mai gives you more variety. With two or three days out of Bangkok, Khao Yai is the easier choice.
Is Khao Yai cooler than Chiang Mai for golf?
In the cool season both are comfortable, and Khao Yai can feel slightly milder in the afternoon. Golfasian's Khao Yai guide gives mornings around 15C and days around 25C from November to February (accessed 2026-10-30). Chiang Mai's highland courses run 15 to 22C early and reach highs of 28 to 32C in the same months (CMGT Golf, 2026). Both are clearly cooler than Bangkok. The bigger difference comes from late February onward, when Chiang Mai's burning season brings smoke and AQI readings that often pass 150.
How far is Khao Yai from Bangkok for golf?
Allow about 1.5 to 2.5 hours by road from Bangkok, depending on the course and the traffic. Golfasian lists Rancho Charnvee at about 1.5 hours and Toscana Valley, Kirimaya and Mountain Creek at about 2 hours each (accessed 2026-10-30). Khao Yai has no airport of its own, so a private van from Bangkok is the normal way in. For comparison, CNX airport in Chiang Mai is about 4 km from the Old City, and the courses sit roughly 30 to 45 minutes out.
Can I combine Khao Yai and Chiang Mai golf in one trip?
Yes, but plan to route through Bangkok. There is no practical road link between the two for golfers, so the usual plan is Bangkok, then a road transfer to Khao Yai for two or three rounds, then back to Bangkok for a domestic flight to Chiang Mai. You give up roughly a day to that transfer. On trips of nine nights or more it can be worth it. On a five-night trip we would choose one base and play more rounds instead of spending a day in vans and departure lounges.
When should I avoid Chiang Mai golf compared with Khao Yai?
Avoid Chiang Mai in March, and be cautious from late February to mid-April. Burning-season smoke settles over the northern valley, and on the worst days PM2.5 readings climb far above safe levels, with Chiang Mai regularly ranking among the most polluted cities in the world. In that window a course closer to Bangkok, or a coastal destination, is the safer choice for your lungs. From November to early February, and on green-season mornings, Chiang Mai is the stronger golf destination. Check IQAir daily if your dates fall near the edges of the burning season.
