Chiang Mai is the better golf destination and Siem Reap is the better temple destination. Chiang Mai has 13 courses in our directory and all-in rounds from ฿1,950. Siem Reap has three 18-hole courses, with green fees listed from US$115. If golf is the main reason for the trip, go to Chiang Mai. If Angkor Wat is the main reason and you want one or two rounds, go to Siem Reap. Below is a side-by-side comparison of courses, costs, transfers and seasons.
How do the golf course options compare?
Chiang Mai has 13 courses in our directory from 9 to 27 holes. Siem Reap has three main 18-hole courses, so repeat rounds start on day four.
In Siem Reap, the three main courses are Angkor Golf Resort (a Nick Faldo design, about 10 minutes from the centre), Phokeethra Country Club (linked to the Sofitel Angkor) and Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club (about 12 km out), according to Hello Angkor's course guide (accessed 2026-10-14). All three are well regarded. There just aren't many of them.
Chiang Mai has several distinct kinds of course. Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa is a 27-hole Schmidt-Curley course and, in our experience, the best-conditioned course in the region. Alpine Golf Resort is a Ron Garl design with a very long par-5 4th and an island-green par 3. Royal Chiang Mai is a Peter Thomson links-style course with pot bunkers. Gassan Panorama is one of the longest layouts in the north and suits big hitters. Our best golf courses in Chiang Mai guide ranks the full list.
| Factor | Chiang Mai | Siem Reap |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | 13 in our directory, 9 to 27 holes | 3 main 18-hole courses |
| Headline designers | Schmidt-Curley, Ron Garl, Peter Thomson, Denis Griffiths | Nick Faldo at Angkor Golf Resort |
| Typical round price | ฿1,950-3,700 all-in (Apr-Oct 2026) | From US$115 green fee, 18 holes |
| Currency | Thai baht | US dollars widely used |
| Night golf | Yes: Summit Green Valley, Gassan Legacy, Star Dome | Not widely offered, confirm with the club |
| Airport to town | About 4 km, 10-15 min | About 45 km, about 1 hr 15 min |
| Rounds before repeating | A week or more | 3 |
What does a round cost in each city?
A green-season all-in round in Chiang Mai costs ฿1,950-3,700. In Siem Reap the green fee alone is listed at US$115 for 18 holes.
Chiang Mai's green-season (April to October 2026) all-in rates include green fee, caddie and cart. They run from ฿1,950 at Gassan Legacy to ฿3,400 at Highlands and ฿3,700 at Alpine (CMGT Golf, 2026). High-season rates from November to March are higher and change more often, so we quote them case by case.
In Siem Reap, 1golf.eu lists Angkor Golf Resort at US$115 for 18 holes, the same price on weekdays and weekends (accessed 2026-10-14). Other aggregators show "from US$125". Older guides list Booyoung's walk-in rates well below Angkor Golf Resort, which suggests it is the cheapest of the three. We could not confirm 2026 rack rates for Phokeethra or Booyoung, so treat any figure you see as an estimate and confirm with the club.
Which city has better course conditioning?
Chiang Mai's best courses are in better condition than its weaker ones. Siem Reap's three are generally well reviewed, but you have far fewer to choose from.
We send golfers to these courses year-round, and some of them have weak spots. Mae Jo has the weakest conditioning of the premium group and can play slowly. Summit Green Valley sits at the top of the local price range and gets repeated complaints about its greens. Chiangmai Inthanon has had reviews noting a decline. This is why our quotes favour Highlands, Alpine and North Hill, which plays like a private club.
Siem Reap has less range to worry about. Fewer courses means fewer bad ones. It also means that if one course is having a bad month, you have only two alternatives.
How do airport transfers and course drives compare?
Chiang Mai's airport is about 4 km from the Old City. Siem Reap's new airport is about 45 km out, so arrival day is a travel day.
In Chiang Mai, CNX is 10-15 minutes from the Old City by taxi or Grab for ฿150-200. North Hill is about 15 minutes from the airport, and Lanna Golf Club is about 10 minutes from the Old City. Most other courses are 30-45 minutes away. A pre-booked private round trip to a course costs about ฿1,400-2,500, and a package includes it. Our Chiang Mai airport transfer guide covers the details.
Siem Reap moved its flights to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI). Hello Angkor's airport guide gives the distance as about 45 km and the drive as roughly 1 hour 15 minutes (accessed 2026-10-14). Reported fares are about US$8 one way on the official shuttle bus and US$35 for a private car, but these change, so confirm before you travel. Once you are in town, Angkor Golf Resort is close by.
How do caddies and on-course culture compare?
Both countries require caddies. Chiang Mai charges in baht with clear tipping norms. In Siem Reap, prices are in dollars and published caddie fees are rare.
In Chiang Mai, you get one caddie per golfer, and you can't play without one. The caddie fee paid to the course is ฿300-400 at most courses. The tip is separate and expected: ฿400-600 for 18 holes, or ฿700-1,000 for an excellent caddie, paid in cash at the bag drop. Our caddie culture and tipping guide explains how it works.
Course listings say caddies are compulsory at Angkor Golf Resort, but they don't publish a fee. Ask for both the caddie fee and the usual tip when you book, and bring small US dollar notes. The dress code is similar in both places: collared shirt, tailored shorts or trousers, soft spikes, and no denim.
Which is better for combining golf with temples?
For temples, Siem Reap is the clear winner because Angkor is minutes from the first tee. Chiang Mai has golf and temples that fit easily into the same day.
This is Siem Reap's strongest point. You can play an early round at Angkor Golf Resort and see the temples in the afternoon, using an Angkor pass (US$37 for one day, US$62 for three, US$72 for seven, accessed 2026-10-14). Buy the pass only from the official Angkor Enterprise outlets.
Chiang Mai has hundreds of temples and Doi Suthep above the city, but nothing on the scale of Angkor. It does make golf and sightseeing easy to combine. Courses are close enough that you can play in the morning and visit the Old City temples by mid-afternoon. Our Culture & Golf package includes 3 rounds and planned temple time over 5 nights.
When should you go to each, and when should you avoid them?
November to February is best for both. In March, avoid Chiang Mai because burning-season smoke can push PM2.5 to hazardous levels.
Both cities have the same weather pattern: cool and dry November to February, hot March to May (35C or more), and green season June to October with afternoon storms that leave mornings playable.
The main difference is air quality. Chiang Mai's burning season runs roughly mid-January to mid-April and peaks in March, when the city regularly ranks among the most polluted in the world on air quality trackers. If you're travelling in March, consider weighting the trip toward Siem Reap, and check the air quality in both cities daily before you go, since Cambodia has its own dry-season haze. Our burning season golf guide explains how to plan around it.
What paperwork does Siem Reap add?
Cambodia requires a visa for most passports. The tourist e-visa is reported at US$30 to US$36, and you also need an online arrival card.
Cambodia lowered its tourist e-visa fee from US$36 to US$30 from 1 January 2025, according to Travel Trade Journal (accessed 2026-10-14). Some 2026 pages still list US$36 including processing, so pay only through the official evisa.gov.kh portal and check the price there. Many Western passports can enter Thailand visa-free, but check your own nationality's current rules before you fly.
Is a package worth it in either city?
A package pays off in Chiang Mai from about three rounds, because transfers and tee times add up. For one round in Siem Reap, booking direct is fine.
In Chiang Mai, a package covers green fees, caddies, carts, the hotel, a private driver, airport transfers and our support on the ground. With 3 or more rounds, the transfers alone (about ฿1,400-2,500 per round trip) make booking each piece yourself the more expensive option. If you're playing one round at a course close to town, booking direct can be cheaper, and we will tell you that. Our booking direct vs agent guide works through the numbers, and Chiang Mai golf holiday cost shows full budgets.
For a short combined trip, the Weekend Warrior (3 nights, 3 rounds) or Northern Value (4 nights, 3 rounds) leaves enough time for a Siem Reap stay afterwards. We send a quote after you enquire and confirm the booking with a deposit. Start on the Chiang Mai golf page.
So which should you choose?
Choose Chiang Mai for golf depth and value. Choose Siem Reap for Angkor with one or two rounds. If you have ten days, do both.
Choose Siem Reap if the temples are the main reason for the trip. Choose Chiang Mai if you want five rounds without repeating a course, all-in pricing in baht and a 15-minute airport transfer. If you're also considering Indonesia, our Bali vs Chiang Mai golf comparison uses the same approach.
Get a quote for your Chiang Mai golf tripGreen fees, caddies, carts, hotel and private transfers in one planFrequently asked questions
Is Siem Reap or Chiang Mai better for a golf trip?
For a golf-first trip, Chiang Mai wins on depth and price. Our directory lists 13 courses around the city, and green-season all-in rounds run from ฿1,950 at Gassan Legacy to ฿3,700 at Alpine (CMGT Golf, 2026). Siem Reap has three main 18-hole courses, and an 18-hole green fee at Angkor Golf Resort is listed at US$115 before extras. Siem Reap wins if Angkor Wat is the main reason for the trip and golf is a side activity. If you can play 3 or more rounds, Chiang Mai gives you more variety for less money.
How many golf courses are there in Siem Reap?
Siem Reap has three main 18-hole courses. Angkor Golf Resort is a Nick Faldo design about 10 minutes from the city centre. Phokeethra Country Club is linked to the Sofitel Angkor and sits in Puok district. Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club is about 12 km from the centre and is generally the cheapest of the three. There is also a mini-golf course, Angkor Wat Putt. With three courses, a fourth round in Siem Reap means playing one of them a second time. Chiang Mai has enough courses for a week without repeats.
Can I combine Chiang Mai and Siem Reap in one golf trip?
Yes, but plan it as two separate stays, not a day trip. Most routings between the two connect through Bangkok, so set aside the best part of a day for each transfer. Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) is about 45 km from town, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by road. A workable split is 4 or 5 nights in Chiang Mai for 3 or 4 rounds, then 3 nights in Siem Reap for one round and two temple days. Cambodia needs a visa for most passport holders, so get the e-visa before you fly.
Are caddies mandatory in Siem Reap like in Chiang Mai?
Caddies are compulsory at Angkor Golf Resort, and you should expect the same at the other Siem Reap courses, but confirm when you book. In Chiang Mai, a caddie is required everywhere, one per golfer. The course fee is ฿300-400 at most Chiang Mai courses, and the expected tip is ฿400-600 per 18 holes, paid in cash at the bag drop. Siem Reap prices are in US dollars and published caddie fees are hard to find, so ask for the caddie fee and the usual tip when you book. In either country, have small notes ready for the tip.
When is the best time to golf in Siem Reap versus Chiang Mai?
Both have the same three seasons. November to February is cool, dry and best for golf. March to May is hot, often 35C or more, so tee off by 7am. June to October brings green-season rain, usually as short afternoon storms. The big difference is smoke. Chiang Mai's burning season runs roughly mid-January to mid-April and peaks in March, when PM2.5 readings can reach hazardous levels. Plan a Chiang Mai trip for November to early February, or for the green season. If you have to travel in March, it makes sense to weight the trip toward Siem Reap and check air quality in both cities.
