Burning Season in Chiang Mai

Burning Season in Chiang Mai is usually late February through late April. Some of my Thailand travel groups say not to plan travel during these months, but if that’s the only time you can visit you will still have a nice time—we did! Reconsider travel if anyone in your group has breathing issues or if mountain views are important to you.

NASA Fire Map

Click here to see the current fires burning in this area over the past 24 hours. This image was from one of the days we were in Chiang Mai.

Despite illegality, farmers in northern Thailand (and everywhere else as you can see from the map) burn their fields to fertilize the soil during the dry season. It causes respiratory issues with residents and hazy skies.

Not such a great view from Doi Suthep during Burning Season…

I asked a local: are the face masks for covid or burning season? “Both!” was her answer, “and smog too.” she added.

The hazy skies did make for some pretty sunrises and sunsets.

We still thoroughly enjoyed our time in Chiang Mai despite the smoke, but I do wish we could have seen the mountains a bit more.