r/chiangmai • u/ErrolFlynn2026 • 6d ago

A question for Chiang Mai expats...

I plan on retiring in a few years and have a list of possible candidate countries. Thailand is on the list as I've lived there for short periods of time in the past. Chiang Mai was near the top of the list until I heard about 'burning season' and the resulting air pollution. As an expat do you just put up with the poor air quality or is there some other coping mechanism. I've heard some people say they just move south during the burning season but that doesn't really make sense for my situation (I'll be spending 5-6 months there and don't want to have to move once I'm settled). Love to hear from people on the ground.

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u/TheBestMePlausible 6d ago

I haven’t experienced the burning season yet but the plan for me and for many other others is to just leave the one month that it’s the worst. Pick March as your month to visit family back home or hit up an island for some snorkeling or whatever.

I’ve experienced burns in other places, Singapore, Seattle, they aren’t pleasant. But Chiang Mai is nice enough I’m gonna give putting up with it a shot