The time of year infamously known as Chiang Mai’s smoky season has arrived. Perhaps one of travelers’ biggest worries is planning a trip to northern Thailand and not knowing how bad the air quality is. After living through several of Chiang Mai’s smoky seasons, here’s what you can generally expect during the worst of it and how to handle it.
UPDATE: This post has been updated as of April 2019.
Chiang Mai’s hot smoky season doesn’t get into full swing until March. However, we’ve noticed the beginnings of haziness as early as January and extending through the middle of May. March and April are the worst!
What Causes Chiang Mai’s Smoky Season?
The smoky season is caused by several different factors, although we can’t say for certain which is the biggest contributor.
Farmers burn fields and brush to get ready for a new season of crops. We’ve driven past farmland just outside Chiang Mai’s Old City and smoke trails can be easily seen from the road. We’ve also seen smoke wafting up from the hills and nearby mountains. Locals also burn their trash, but that is arguably a year-round thing.
Additionally, it’s hard to miss the dark gray smog spewing from vehicles’ exhaust pipes, particularly from Chiang Mai’s songthaews and tuk tuks. When the high season rolls around between October and February, the increased traffic adds to the air pollution.
Chiang Mai is also surrounded by Doi Suthep, Doi Saket, Doi Inthanon, and Doi Khun Tan. These mountains create a valley that traps the dense vehicle smog and crop-burning smoke over Chiang Mai.
And not to be forgotten, the last rainstorm passes through Chiang Mai near the end of October. No frequent rain to clean the air means that by the time it’s March, the land and air are dry and dusty.
What to Expect During Chiang Mai’s Smoky Season
Where did the mountains go? Picture taken in March 2013
Chiang Mai’s smoky season becomes apparent when its typical robin egg blue skies are replaced by a dingy yellow haze, lack of visibility, and a lingering campfire smell in the air. Nearby hills and buildings are difficult to see and often disappear entirely on bad days. On the worst days the local mountain, Doi Suthep, cannot be seen. Even the sun is muted to a glowing orange ball in the sky.
The smell of smoke lingers in the air. We smell it in the morning when we first step outside or open our windows. When we go out for the evening or line-dry our laundry, our clothes and hair smell like we’ve been around a bonfire.
We also notice that many surfaces develop a thin gritty film on them. Often we can see the dust clouds hanging in the air, which are created by passing cars and nearby construction.
Health Effects of Chiang Mai’s Smoky Season
The dust, dirt, and smoke particles contribute to a poor air quality index (AQI). Particles that are smaller than 10 microns in diameter (PM10 or less) have adverse health effects. PM2.5 particles are considered really harmful. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide also contribute to AQI levels. Chiang Mai’s levels swing back and forth between 101-150 (Orange, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) and 151-199 (Red, Unhealthy) and 200-300 (Purple, Very Unhealthy). In 2019, the PM 2.5 levels reached record-high amounts of 600+ (Hazardous)!
Below, we’ve provided snapshots of Chiang Mai’s AQI over the years.
Chiang Mai AQI 104 in April 2016
In April 2016, the smog wasn’t quite terrible yet, but it was unhealthy for sensitive groups. This poor air quality was bad for very young, the very old, and people with breathing problems, or immune deficiencies.
Chiang Mai AQI 219 in March 2017
In March 2017, the smog levels were high enough to to be very unhealthy for EVERYONE – even if you don’t experience itchy eyes, a burning throat, and coughing fits.
Chiang Mai AQI 420 in March 2019
In March 2019, the smog levels were ridiculously HAZARDOUS FOR EVERYONE!
Chiang Mai’s AQI levels can be viewed in real-time on AQICN.org, although this site doesn’t show seasonal trends or a yearly comparison. For those who are interested in conveniently monitoring the air quality, there’s also an app called Air4Thai that is available for Android and Apple smartphones.
In general, the higher the AQI, the hazier it is and the greater toll it can take on your lungs. Some people may also experience sinus trouble. For others, the smog can cause bronchial inflammation, labored breathing, or an asthma attack.
How to Combat Chiang Mai’s Smoky Season
Blue skies and fluffy clouds after Chiang Mai’s smoky season.
Many people are concerned with the adverse health effects caused by the increased air pollution during Chiang Mai’s smoky season. Luckily, there are a few options to keep you healthy, both indoors and outdoors.
01 Stay Indoors During Peak Hours
Chiang Mai’s smoky season coincides with some of the hottest temperatures of the year, so we prefer to go out in the mornings and evenings when the AQI is a little lower.
Staying indoors during the hottest times in the afternoon will help a lot of people. However, you must keep your windows and doors shut all day or else the AQI inside your house will be just as high as outside!
02 Wear N95 Grade Masks
If the smog is bothersome while you’re outside, wearing face masks with a proper filter grade will protect your lungs and sinuses. Look for masks that specifically advertise a filter grading of at least N95. They should also fit snugly around the nose and mouth with no open gaps on the sides to allow unfiltered air in.
We have purchased masks like this at large department stores such as HomePro or hardware stores featuring 3M products. Masks generally cost around 150 baht (5 USD) each.
These are not the cheap surgical look-a-like masks that can be purchased at 7-Elevens, mini Tescos, or FamilyMarts. Thai people wear these thin, white masks during the burning season, but they are useless. These masks don’t protect the lungs from the finer particles.
03 Invest in an Indoor Air Purifier
Air conditioning units can filter the air for larger particles such as lint and hair. However, investing in a stand-up air filter for your home or apartment can keep your lungs and sinuses happy indoors. These are designed to trap the smaller smog particles.
There are many brands on the market. They can be purchased from major home appliance stores and supercenters such as HomePro, but we bought an air purifier online in Thailand and it’s amazing. They are well worth the investment, especially for people who are sensitive to the poor air quality.
We also use this neti pot and nasal rinse to clean out our sinuses from time to time. We bought ours from a small pharmacy at Chiang Mai Gate and use it when the dust and smoke make our noses itch. There are different brands and styles of neti pots, but we prefer the squeezable ones to the ones that work off gravity alone.
04 Enjoy Time in Southern Thailand
Otherwise, you can do what we’ve planned to do and vacation in the southern beach regions of Thailand. We’ve recommended this to others in the past.
Check out our new post, 10 Places to Escape to During Northern Thailand’s Burning Season if you want to go somewhere with fresh, healthy air.
Our Experience with Chiang Mai’s Smoky Season
We first arrived in Chiang Mai in March 2013 right as the burning season was kicking into high gear. At the time the sky was hazy and the air smelled like a campfire but we weren’t overly affected by the dry heat or the smoke at the time. We attributed this to being preoccupied with getting settled into our new apartment and being so excited about moving to Thailand.
Every year since then – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 – Chiang Mai’s smoky season has seemed to worsen. We’ve invested in face masks with the proper N95 filter grade. Chris notices that his sinuses flare up when he doesn’t use his mask outside or on the motorbike. We also adjust our schedule and stay inside between 2 pm and 6 pm and avoid outdoor restaurants and cafés completely.
It wasn’t until the rain showed up sporadically in April and a bit more in May that the visibility and air quality improved significantly.
The Bottom Line
Chiang Mai’s smoky season can make you physically uncomfortable and you’ll definitely miss out on the picturesque views. It’s no wonder why tourists are hesitant to visit Chiang Mai during the burning season. Or why locals tend to vacation down south during this time.
We personally do not recommend visiting northern Thailand in March or April. This is especially true if you have breathing problems triggered by air pollution. However, we think most people will enjoy their time here for a few days and as long as they know the limitations of their own body and use caution when outside. After all, we’re sure almost anyone would be thrilled to spend time in Chiang Mai, smoky season or not!
Hi Chris, I just happened upon your article regarding Burning Season. I do have some breathing issues, for me when it’s really hot and humidity is high…that’s why i wanted to visit Chiang Mai in late Jan to early February until I read about the Burning Season. Would I still be ok doing my trip at this time, no more than 3-4 days. Also if you’re still living in Chiang Mai- when Covid 19 arrived and country was locked down- since this post with showing AQI for a few years prior Pandemic-have you seen a decrease in AQI for 2020… Read more »
It’s funny how many expats complain about air quality while smoking cigarettes all day… Freakin’ Leo Drinkers.
Is there anyway a person can help to reduce or stop this?
And people in the west want to blame themselves for global warming. Some are more gullible than others I guess.
I can tell you that western Thailand (Mon Bridge) is pretty bad right now. You can’t see for more than 1km.
I grew up in a heavily polluted area of the United States, where the government warned pregnant women never to eat fish from the local river (they didn’t warn the cement mills and quarries to stop dumping their refuse into the river though)…
Hi, thank you for this article, it’s really useful. Do you know if the smokey season affects other places like Chiang Dao? We are supposed to be flying to chiang mai on 14th feb and we’re going to go to chiang dao for a week ?
Hi- how bad are they saying it will be in early March? My mom jumped the gun and booked her flight. She was there last year from March 8-15 and said they didn’t notice anything… we are going this year from March 5-9 with our 2.5 year old son. Hoping we shouldn’t change our plans I really want to go to CM this trip
Hi! I know it’s been awhile since anyone has posted here but I wanted to find out how the rains have been this winter. I read that it contributes to when burning starts and how much burning takes place. I’m hoping to be in Thailand from 2/17-2/25 with several of those days in the north because I love temples. Do you think that should be fine given what you’re seeing this year so far?
The AQI was 166 (danger zone!) just a few days ago (beginning of January 2020) and the numbers are only projected to get worse. If you visit Chiang Mai at the end of February it will be quite smoggy with low visibility and yellow skies. The worst is in March and April. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but much of Thailand (from Hua Hin and everywhere north) is affected by the smog from December to May.
Anyone able to tell me what it’s like now? My husband and I will be in Chiang Mai May 1st-6th.. I have the opportunity to reroute our destination down south, but my husband says he’s alright with sticking to our itinerary.
It’s unhealthy right now (161 right now – in the RED). Check the real-time AQI with this link: https://aqicn.org/city/chiang-mai/
Hi, my friend and I had planned a girls trip for April 25th without knowing about the air quality situation in Chiang Mai. The tix we got are non refundable or cancellable :(….would you know if historically things have gone better towards end of April? or do you recommend just to cancel? Thanks.
We don’t think it’s worth canceling your trip (since you already spent the money and assuming you don’t have lung issues that would keep you in bed during your trip.) However, historically speaking, it’s not all blue skies and clean air until mid to end of May. Wish we had better news!
thanks for the candid response. I am a little sensitive to haze so I might have to cancel :(
Hello and thanks for the helpful info! We’re already booked for one week in Chiangmai April 8-15. We have a eight-year-old with us so we’re hoping to do a few activities. Unfortunately it’ll cost a lot to change our flights so I’m wondering if you have any suggestions for a nearby locations to escape to? Or is it pretty bad all around the area even if we went out to the mountains?
Have you tried looking at the budget airlines like Air Asia or Tiger Air? If you are not able to change your flights, then you are not able to escape the smog because it covers the entire northern half of Thailand. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. We hope you can figure something out to send your time in southern Thailand!
Thanks for the response but I’m curious…and this time related to the poster below about areas. Why, when you check on the air quality index for Chiang Mai, does it show different “ratings” (hazard levels) for different areas that aren’t that far from each other? For example, Chiangmai old town was showing 157 at 4 PM today while the night bazaar area showed 83??
Hi Winni, I live in Chiang Mai next to the airport. Actually the air is so bad that the view distance on the streets is about 200 meters ! It’s like a foggy day in winter in Europe. The different ratings are the result of the wind. Sometimes the level change from 180 to 290 in just 1 hour ! It’s not possible to plan a day. You just know what you see. 3 days ago I arrived in Korea because I need a break from the bad air. In here the air is not perfect but AQI 69 is… Read more »
We assume a low reading in the midst of many high readings is caused by someone who is reading the AQI in their house with a purifier running or the reader is not calibrated correctly. We never believe that there’s a pocket of fresh air and instead look across the many readings and figure out an average.
Is the air quality better in the national forests, I was thinking if its better to get a resort further away from the city, but its hard to tell on a map. Around where teh four seasons is there are few other resorts there as well.
Sadly it is not. You cannot escape the pollution going a little west of Chang Mai because the pollution covers the entire northern half of Thailand!
living in Chiang dao .. 1 year Chiang Mai 2 years … i want to move out of Thailand due to smoke burn season .. this is horrible i stay inside and my eyes still burn … thailand will NOT do anything about it .. the smoke also comes from laos and Burma and others .. so stay away ..
100% AGREE!!!!
Hello! Thanks so much for the information. I love your blog and visit your site quite often. :) I was wondering what air purifier you bought for your home. I am looking to buy one for my condo but I am not sure which one to buy. I checked Lazada but there are so many makes and models I am not sure which one I need to help with Thailand’s smoky season. I tried the link in your post but it is not working. Could you perhaps let me know which one you bought or if you have one you… Read more »
Link updated! The air purifier we recommend is an Hatari HT-AP12
Thank you so much! :)
Hi guys, love your site. We are headed to Chiang Mai in a couple weeks (3/10 to 3/15) We definitely did not take into account the air quality issue. We found this set of mask online, but wanted to get your input regarding whether it would be adequate in Chiang Mai. We’ll be staying in the Old City with stops at Elephant Nature Park, the Karen Elephant Retreat and Doi Suthep. Do you think that would be sufficient for our stay? Are you able to offer any insight as to how the air quality has been thus far for 2019?… Read more »
Yes, those N95 face masks will work while you visit Chiang Mai during the smoky season. The air quality gets worse every year … and it started really early this season! Right now you can’t see the mountain and it will be horrendous in two weeks when you visit. It’s a good thing you are getting those masks!
ENP and Doi Suthep are great stops. We’ve never visited the Karen Elephant Retreat. Check out our post, 12 Amazing Things to Do in Chiang Mai for more ideas during your 6-day visit. Have a BLAST!
Hi guys, I will be leaving to Thailand tomorrow arriving in BKK. I had initially thought to postpone my trip up Northern Thailand to future trips but I’ve heard that the police has enforced newly legislated fines on farmers last week and that a fire was put out. Based on https://www.airvisual.com/thailand/chiang-mai it seems that AQI was as high as 179 on Sunday and is back down to the high 70s yesterday. What is the visibility like in Chiang Mai right now? If it has cleared up I may consider giving Chiang Mai/ Chiang Rai/Pai a shot. Thanks!!
If you’re in Chiang Mai’s Old City, you CAN’T see the mountain, which is just a few miles away. The AQI usually goes down at night but it hovers around 150-200 during the day in March, April, and May. Don’t be deceived by the 70 reported the other day!
hi! I was able to get 3 weeks off from work to go to Thailand and am only now hearing about the burning season. I was planning on arriving in Chiang Mai March 14th and staying in the area (trekking trip, site seeing, possibly heading to Pai) until March 18th when I start a week of volunteering at Elephant Nature Park. Is this a terrible idea? I dont have any respiratory or medical issues and have access to N95 respirator masks to bring with me. Or should i skip Northern Thailand altogether and do my trip elsewhere?
Oh no! March and April have peak AQI (PM10 and PM 2.5) levels. It’s good you don’t have respiratory issues and that you have access to N95 masks. We wish we could suggest an equivalent substitution for an elephant conservatory as great as Elephant Nature Park. Perhaps still go to Chiagn Mai for that incredible experience and then spend time in the south where the skies won’t be yellow and smell like smoke – but robin egg blue and fresh. Have a great trip!
Heyy
Thanks a lot for this post! I haven’t found another website talking about the smoky season in Chiang Mai.
I was planning on visiting from February 26th through 28th.. Now I am hesitant..
Please advise…
If you plan to visit Chiang Mai for three days during the smoky season, by all means, GO! Unless you are EXTREMELY sensitive to smoke (i.e., you have emphysema) then don’t. Otherwise, we think you will really enjoy your time there without feeling any ill effects from the smoke. Have fun!
How is the weather in late June to early July?
Can we get information about what is the beach to go to over July 4th. I know the rainy season is coming—if not already there.
Do you plan tours?
Thanks for commenting, Helene. Yes, the rainy season has arrived! If you’re visiting Thailand in early July and you want to spend time at a beach, we recommend visiting beaches that are in the Gulf of Thailand to increase the chance of sunny days. This region gets less rain than the beaches and islands in the Andaman Sea this time of year. For example, some of the most popular islands in the Gulf of Thailand are Koh Pangang, Koh Tao, and Koh Samui. Yes, design tours for $50 per day. For example, if you want a 3-day trip around Phuket,… Read more »
Thank you for this information! What sort of PM pollution levels does Chiang Mai have at other (non-smokey season) times of year? Is it within the ‘moderate’ (50-100) range? Does it ever get to ‘good’ range of 0-50?
Yes, the rest of the year the PM2.5 levels in Chiang Mai are less than 50.
Hi there, Thanks for this article! my boyfriend and I are heading there march 15th, and unfortunately theres no way of cancelling at this point.. I suffer from pretty bad asthma so know I will need to wear a mask while visiting Chiang mai and pai. I’m not exactly sure which exact mask you’re referring to buying, as I’m trying to get some while out here in Canada so I’m fully prepared. If you could possibly send me a link to where I could buy one online (I only ever see the white masks even when I look up n95),… Read more »
Hi Jessie. If you’re looking for N95 face masks, they do come in white, but they should have one or two circular valves on them (which properly filter the air). They shouldn’t look like thin, flimsy doctor/dentist masks. If you want something a little more stylish, try http://www.vogmask.com. Have a great trip!
Thanks for this blog, very interesting.
Does someone know where to find the pm2.5 for Chiang Rai? On the web, not on mobile app.
Because the AQI is totally FALSE when the pm2.5 is not taken into account, like those days when it says air is good or moderate for Chiang Rai, and it’s NOT. They just don’t take into account the absence of pm2.5 data!
James
http://aqicn.org/gaia/station/#s:c376f1 legit sight our international school uses
Hi Chris & Angela, what a great website you’ve put together. Full of really helpful advice. My husband and I have been traveling for just over one year and are currently in SE Asia finishing up our trip before heading home to Australia. We are due to arrive in Northen Thailand on the 1st of May and spend time around Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Pai. I know that March and April are the worst months for smoke haze up in the North but just wanted to get your thoughts on the start of May and whether the smoke hangs… Read more »
The rain is supposed to come mid-April, landing squarely with Songkran, Thailand’s water festival. In our past four years in Chang Mai, it’s been only a little rain that comes through and not enough to clear the air to a ‘healthy’ AQI level (under 50), although it is a marginal improvement. In 2016, the heavy smog hung around until one week before the end of May when a big thunderstorn came through. We wouldn’t bet on clear air until the start of rainy season in June. But who knows about this year – we’ve already had one rainstorm in the… Read more »
Hi Chris & Angela,
Thank you for your informative blog. I am due to arrive in CM next week; could you recommend stores there to buy the N95 mask please.
Many thanks.
Absolutely! We wrote this paragraph in the post: “We have purchased masks like this at large department stores such as HomePro or hardware stores featuring 3M products.” You can also purchase them online (finally!) and have them delivered to your place in a day or two.
Hi Chris and Angela, thank you so much for your Information. My Friend and I are planning a trip to Chiang mai at the end of April this year. We are not sure if we should do this because of the air Quality and the drying time:( I checked the weather and there are already some rainy days. We would like to do some Rafting. As you have a lot of experience, is it possible to go rafting at the end of april? We would like to stay for at least 3-4 days. (sorry for my bad english, I´m from… Read more »
Hi Sabine! April is the very end of dry season so the rivers will be very low. If anything, you should be able to go bamboo rafting, but not white water rafting!
I could not breathe without chest pain. Watching so many smoke tobacco, choking hideous go s. or e. 1991 c.m. was cool now PAI.
Thank you for your post! We’re planning a trip to Chiang Mai around the end of June and I hadn’t even thought about this. We’re currently dealing with poor air quality in Korea where we live and that’s the last thing I want on our vacation. It looks like we will miss it!
Great article, as usual, thank you! Regarding Air4Thai, they don’t list PM2.5 values, and if I’m not mistaken, those are the most dangerous and therefore most important levels to watch. aqicn.org, which you mention in a comment, *does* list PM2.5. I’d suggest mentioning aqicn.org in the body of the article in addition to, or instead of, Air4Thai.
Thanks! We’ve linked to aqicn.org using the anchor text ‘real-time’ in the sentence just before we mention Air4Thai, but we’ll change it so it’s easier to catch while skimming. Thanks for your comment :)
Thank you for the information! Couple of friends have made adjustments to our trip to accommodate those with asthma and allergies thanks to this blog. I have mild allergies and I think I’ll be fine wearing a mask. Do we need a mask a day? Or with one will be fine? We some of us will be there for 3 days. Thank you!
Glad to hear we helped prevent a little misery and you were able to change your travel plans accordingly. We personally use the same mask (with the high-grade filter) for the entire smoky season. We’ve never checked how many ‘uses’ it recommends but we also make it a point to hardly go out, so we aren’t logging a lot of hours on our masks. Plus, the smog affects us so in theory we could tell if the filter has stopped working. It’s a lifesaver if you have allergies! Have a great trip!
Hello,
I’m due to visit Chiang mai March 5-8, I’m hoping you can let me now what the smoke is like at the moment… better or worse than last year?
Thanks
It’s not as bad as last year but still in the yellow zone. You can get the exact levels on aqicn.org before you arrive. Have a great time!
Thank you very much for this informative post. I’ve been accepted to a one-month English teaching course that runs March-April in Chiang Mai, and after reading this, I am looking to transfer it to later in the year (the course runs almost every month). What has been your experience in May/June, June/July or even September/October in Chiang Mai, weather/health wise?
Thanks,
Angela
My husband and I are making our first trip to Thailand in March and we have a week planned in Chiang Mai from March 19-26 and then I am spending a week at Elephant Nature Park. My husband has sinus problems. Did we make a huge mistake?? Everything is booked now and penalties for changing apply. How upset should I be?
March and April are the worst months. The end of March when you are planning to come will have a very high (100+) AQI. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Please invest in a N95 filtered mask when you go outside!
Hi Chris and Angela, thanks for the tips! I will be in CM for two days in March. One of the days I will be about 90 mins outside the city at an elephant sanctuary. Is the smoke out there just as bad? Would you recommend that I book the early morning session and get back inside in the afternoon? Thank you!
Sadly, yes. March is the worst! The smoke is bad around the entire northern and Isaan (northeast) regions of Thailand and dips down as far as some areas of central Thailand. Booking the early ENS session is a great idea to avoid those peak particulate hours. You may also want to invest in an N95 mask (buy one from a hardware store before your trip) to wear if you really want to stay a full day. Have fun!
Hi, Chris and Angela.
Thanks for your website and information.
My family of five (h,w,3 kids (12, 13, 14) are visiting Thailand next April for two weeks. We are spending 3 days in Bangkok, 2 in Siem Reap, and 4 somewhere else (undecided). We were leaning for CM for a 2 or 3 day trek. However, I’m not so sure now. If you had younger teenagers, what would you do? We are most interested in culture, archaeology, and dazzling sites. CM seems to nail the culture component. Krabi seems to nail the dazzling sites.
Thanks so much for your time.
Hi Doug! Check out our one-week Chang Mai itineraries – we have one dedicated specifically to cultural activities called “Cultural Enthusiast“. Browse through our recommendations and pick a few to do during your 2-3 days here in Chiang Mai. We think you’ll love it!
Hi Chris and Angela. Thanks for your insight on the smokey season in Chiang Mai. I am a college student looking to do a study abroad in Chiang Mai in Spring 2017, Jan through early May (basically the entire smokey season), and want to know if you think that would be worth it. I am not super sensitive to smoke, but just like anyone I don’t want to be breathing in tons of unhealthy air. I also don’t want my experience in Chiang Mai to be completely spent inside. Would I still be able to go on hikes/do general outdoor… Read more »
Studying abroad in Chiang Mai is a fantastic opportunity! Is it worth it to come here in the smoky season even if you can handle the smoke? Well, to put it into perspective, we first moved here in March (right in the middle of smoky season) and were so excited about being here that the smog didn’t bother us (physically it did a little, but it didn’t damper our excitement for the region). It wasn’t until later that we realized how bad it was, even though at the time we really enjoyed ourselves. We don’t recommend hiking or any other… Read more »
Can you vacation in Phuket in February? I have a son with allergies. Is the air quality poor there as well? Also, what are the chances if he is nut and sesame free I will be able to find food for him to eat?
Generally speaking, southern Thailand doesn’t have smog issues like the northern areas do during that time of year. As far as allergies to nuts and sesame, you will have to be very careful. Canola oil is typically used for cooking, but a few dishes have nuts and other dishes and desserts have sesame. We recommend that you carry an allergy translation cards (in Thai) that clearly state that your son can go into to shock/stop breathing/go to hospital/die. Thai people people sometimes shrug off an allergy as no big deal, but you will have to take extra precaution if it’s… Read more »
Awesome, thank you
Hi A & C!
Overall, do you find it worth it to move to CM despite the smokey season? I don’t think I’ll be able to afford to move south 2 months out of the year… your opinion is greatly appreciated :) (I currently am located in Phuket.)
We actually talked about that in another post. We spent about five weeks out of Chiang Mai this time around in 2016 and that made the smoky season nearly bearable. Every year we tell ourselves that we’re going to move somewhere for a month or two during the worst of it but it never happens for one reason or another (mostly because of our C-A-T). The smoky season sucks – if you can move here but somehow manage to incorporate several short, cheap trips down south during the time, that’s your best bet. Also, Chiang Mai is waaaayy cheaper than… Read more »
Thanks for all the good information! Just wondering, you were saying that they are starting the burning earlier and earlier.. Even in Jan…we were thinking of a trip with my two young children in Jan and I don’t think they would cope well with a smoky environment. Is it likely to be pretty awful in Jan or is it usually reasonable enough for a holiday?
You’re welcome! You could probably get by with visiting in January with young children, but we can’t promise crystal clear skies. We wouldn’t recommend coming in February, though. It was already bad this year (2016) at that time. Have fun!
We almost didn’t come to Chiang Mai because of the smoke. We decided to come last minute from Krabi as we had a few extra days to travel, and we are so glad we did. My husband struggles with severe allergies, and the air-quality hasn’t bothered him at all. It is very hazy, in fact yesterday and this morning we couldn’t even see the giant mountain right outside of the city, some of that haze has cleared up as of this afternoon and we can see it now (although in no detail). I would say if you are in Thailand,… Read more »
Thanks for sharing your experience! We think many people will be happy to hear you didn’t suffer from the air quality even though it’s somewhat hazy.
thnx x yr reply.
in fact i was already keeping an eye on CM aqi index which has almost always shown moderate values, below 100, so i assumed it should be safe to come.
it’s difficult to say whether one is sensitive or not to that smoke, one can be allergic to an allergen and not to others.
thnx
Hi Chris and Angela, thanks a lot for the very useful post. My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Chiang Mai from May 1st to May 6th. What can we expect from the smog? Will it be completely cleared out? We are not especially sensitive to the air quality but we would like to live an “optimal” experience of Thailand. Do you think it would be preferable that we go to an island instead?
Thank you very much, Andréane and David
The smog starts clearing up at the end of April and beginning of May. It will not be completely cleared out but there’s a good chance that it will be nearly clear. If you do not have a sensitive respiratory system you will do fine.
hi guys thnx x the immensely useful report. can you please tell me what’s the situation now regarding the smoke? i’ve some friends in CM who are not affected by the smoke. so i need to have the opinion of people who are more affected. i arrive at BKK the 29th march, then i can travel to CM straight away, or wait in BKK few days, up until the10th april. also, the 13th april is longkran, water festival. i dont know how it affects accommodation, traveling, etc. although i don’t know much, it seems wise to avoid travelling from bkk… Read more »
If you are sensitive, no time will be good for you to come during your planned schedule between March 29th and April 10th. That’s because the smog doesn’t begin clearing out until May, which is after Chiang Mai has received several rain showers. The first rainstorm usually happens in mid April, so that’s after you get here. Double check the real time AQI Levels in Chiang Mai and compare them to a health standard. Wish we had better news for you!
Hi Chris and Angela – We’re traveling to Thailand in mid-late April (15th-26th). We’ll be in Bangkok, then the beaches in Phang Nga bay… we are debating whether or not to visit Chiang Mai at the end of April (25th/26th/27th). Can you advise on when the smoke recedes/clears?
I read somewhere that technically the burning season ends on April 13th, but not sure if that is true (or how long it takes to clear-up after farmers stop burning).
Any advice you can share would be great.
Burning season in 2016 has been unusual – we’ve had two rain storms roll through that have cleaned up the air significantly. In the past years we’ve been here in Chiang Mai goes about four months without seeing rain! The smog is worst in March and beginning of April until the first rainstorm of the season (usually mid April). However, the smog usually hangs around for awhile and doesn’t clear out completely until May/June when there have been regular rainshowers for several days in a row. The bottom line: if you are overly sensitive to air pollution – if you’re… Read more »
I have just returned from my eighth trip to Chiang Mai. I have my first ever attack of bronchitis. The pollution was very bad throughout February. As my dentist is in Chiang Mai I am relieved to read that the pollution is not yet as bad all year. But steps need to be taken to clean it up
We have been surprised with some rain in both February and March, which has made the air cleaner than the last three smoky seasons we’ve experienced. It’s still not great (we smelled smoke and coughed a bit this morning) but at least the sky is a little blue and not tinged completely yellow. We hope you feel better soon!
Which dentist did you see? Going in April to do a TEFL program . I would love to get my teeth checked out by a holistic dentist or just a good dentist. Can you help out by chance?
Hey guys, thanks for a great post. We are in Koh Lips right now and thought of going to Chiang Mai for a month from Feb 29th. Do you think it would be better if we go to Vietnam instead and visit Chiang Mai in April?
Thank you!
Chiang Mai starts getting rain in the middle of April which helps clear out the sky. It’s not completely clean until May though, but if you come in April you may get to experience Songkran!
I gave up – I’m in Bangkok until April at least.
The odd thing is, the photos I took out of the plane at both airports looked similar smog-wise (but I can breathe in Bangkok).
Idea … perhaps if expats and tourists stopped spending their money in Chiang mai during the burning season, the powers that be would pay serious attention, not just lip service?
Hi, thanks for the info. I have a booked to arrive in Chaing mai 12th of March, bad timing I know but what is done is done and its now almost impossible to change this date. I plan to look for an apartment to rent and settle down for a few months. All discomfort aside, would I still be able to find an apartment at this time? There will still be apartments looking for tenants? I’m picturing a ghost town.. Also since I’m coming in the lowest of low season, would I be able to find a cheaper apartment at… Read more »
It’s definitely not a ghost town! Some apartments may not consider this time of year as low season but others might; other apartments have a set price year-round. You may find a cheaper price if you rent privately (directly from a landlord) this time of year.
Hi guys! Thanks for the article. Does this affect parts of Myanmar also (Yangoon, Inle Lake, etc)? My plan is (was) to stay 2 weeks in Chiang Mai and after Mynamar, but i am now considering go straight to Myanamar and forget Chiang Mai. Whats wour thoughts about that? Thanks
The seasonal crop burning affect Myanmar and is at its worst from February through April as it is in Northern Thailand. In fact, some people say that the smog in northern Thailand is partially attributed to what the winds bring down from the northern neighboring countries like Laos and Myanmar. This time of year is just bad to travel to those areas unfortunately.
Thank you so much for this article. We are visiting Thailand next month (March 7-23),, I was really looking forward to spending time in Chiang Mai but my husband has severe allergies. We will have to visit another time during the non-smoky season.
Thanks again!
Sarah
You’re welcome for the heads up!
I’m thinking about going to chaing mai & pai in a couple of weeks (beginning to mid february). How bad is the smoke in mid February? I’ve already done the islands, but I really want to do the North. :) Thanks
Well, we’re not weather forecasters :) but in mid February you can expect to see some yellow haze in the air and if you are sensitive to pollution you will feel side effects (itchy sinuses, weeziness, etc). Don’t worry though, it’s not like Beijing! You will still be able to see Doi Suthep through the haze if you are in Chiang Mai, but its visibility does disappear entirely in March. Any pictures you take will have a whited-out sky rather than blue sky. To be honest, you may not really notice it much once you arrive because of your excitement… Read more »
I just booked a trip to Chiangmai (but also plan to spend a few days in Phuket) for the last week of March. I wish I had researched the smog season more before doing so, but seeing your comments about it starting so early this year makes me wonder if it will lessen by the time I’m visiting, knowing it’ll be almost April. What do you guys think? I’m also going to be staying at the Chai Lai Orchid – it’s sort of in the jungle about an hour from Chiangmai. Wondering if it may be worse or better there.… Read more »
Sadly, it will most likely still be very smoky at the end of March even though it we can smell smoke already. There’s no chance for the smoke to clear up until after several rain showers, which typically happen in mid April.
Mine started being really bad today and now it’s way worse this evening. Has anyone here been to one of the hospitals in Chiang mai to get medicine to suppress the cough? I really don’t like doctors/hospitals so would rather try as much as I can without.
I’m afraid I’m going to have to spend the duration in Bangkok. I can’t take another season of this.
We’re sure the pharmacies are fully stocked with smoky season-related medicine! We may be going out of town for the peak of the smoky season, too. It’s just getting to be to much!