North Thailand Week 2 of February- how bad is the smoke?
Discussion
Does anybody live near Chiang Mai, provinces? or Myanmar or Laos?
I am holidaying in Thailand for the middle two weeks of February and I am planning to spend more than half of that time in the North.
I chose February because of the unanimous agreement that it is a 'good' month for Thai weather pretty much nationwide.
Since booking my flights I have been frightening myself reading about the 'slash & burn' season on the internet. Consensus seems to be that the pollution is at its absolute worst in March / April but that the burning can and does often start in February.
I have already reversed my itinerary so that I am doing the North first in the hope that I will be on my way south by the midpoint of the month.
I am now wondering whether or not I need to change my plans more drastically than that?
I will be doing something like the Mae Hong Son loop by car plus a trip to Chiang Rai & Phu Chi Fah.
I am holidaying in Thailand for the middle two weeks of February and I am planning to spend more than half of that time in the North.
I chose February because of the unanimous agreement that it is a 'good' month for Thai weather pretty much nationwide.
Since booking my flights I have been frightening myself reading about the 'slash & burn' season on the internet. Consensus seems to be that the pollution is at its absolute worst in March / April but that the burning can and does often start in February.
I have already reversed my itinerary so that I am doing the North first in the hope that I will be on my way south by the midpoint of the month.
I am now wondering whether or not I need to change my plans more drastically than that?
I will be doing something like the Mae Hong Son loop by car plus a trip to Chiang Rai & Phu Chi Fah.
Thanks for your reply Berw.
I worked in Chon Buri for a year and a half so I have experienced the climate in the gulf over the long term. I was on a rotation so I also travelled S.E.A. indiscriminately, paying little attention to the weather. I tend to agree, even if you can't avoid the hottest and the wettest months in each location the weather is unlikely to ruin your day entirely (Unless you're sat in 18" of water on Soi Sukhumvit).
Everybody recommends visiting between November and February to tourists because in this period most of the country is free from both the oppressive heat and humidity of the summer and monsoon rains which follow.
Why so concerned with the weather this time around? Well I suppose the fact I got to choose when I travelled allowed me to firstly overthink the weather and then beat myself up after the fact for failing to consider pollution levels.
Secondly, this time around I am acting tour guide for my Mum who has never been to Asia but who like most 60 year olds wants to see a 'lovely view' and has a limited tolerance for extreme heat and humidity. Since I booked the flights our itinerary has been adjusting to take in more and more of the north. If I'd have known I might've opted to go at the end of the rainy season instead, when the forests are at their greenest and the air its cleanest but hey ho.
The burning season seems to be pretty specific to the North as it doesn't see a coastal wind and is surrounded by Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia- and all five countries are seeing widespread fires in the Spring. The pollution likes to sit in the bowl of Chiang Mai in particular. It doesn't seem to pose a health risk to otherwise healthy people in February but it does have the potential to restrict visibility and spoil some of the views.
Anyway, arrangements have been made so I am going to stick to our original dates and keep my fingers crossed for late rain and favorable wind...
I worked in Chon Buri for a year and a half so I have experienced the climate in the gulf over the long term. I was on a rotation so I also travelled S.E.A. indiscriminately, paying little attention to the weather. I tend to agree, even if you can't avoid the hottest and the wettest months in each location the weather is unlikely to ruin your day entirely (Unless you're sat in 18" of water on Soi Sukhumvit).
Everybody recommends visiting between November and February to tourists because in this period most of the country is free from both the oppressive heat and humidity of the summer and monsoon rains which follow.
Why so concerned with the weather this time around? Well I suppose the fact I got to choose when I travelled allowed me to firstly overthink the weather and then beat myself up after the fact for failing to consider pollution levels.
Secondly, this time around I am acting tour guide for my Mum who has never been to Asia but who like most 60 year olds wants to see a 'lovely view' and has a limited tolerance for extreme heat and humidity. Since I booked the flights our itinerary has been adjusting to take in more and more of the north. If I'd have known I might've opted to go at the end of the rainy season instead, when the forests are at their greenest and the air its cleanest but hey ho.
The burning season seems to be pretty specific to the North as it doesn't see a coastal wind and is surrounded by Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia- and all five countries are seeing widespread fires in the Spring. The pollution likes to sit in the bowl of Chiang Mai in particular. It doesn't seem to pose a health risk to otherwise healthy people in February but it does have the potential to restrict visibility and spoil some of the views.
Anyway, arrangements have been made so I am going to stick to our original dates and keep my fingers crossed for late rain and favorable wind...
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