Reference
Practical information
The supporting reference material behind the rest of the site. Climate tables month by month so you can pick the right season; wildlife notes for the bird-watchers and trekkers; and the practical bits that come up again and again — transport, money, language, the differences between Songkran and other Thai festivals.
Updated
Wildlife
Birds of Thailand
Thailand records around 1,100 bird species, more than any country in mainland Southeast Asia. The hills around Chiang Mai are a serious birding destination thanks to the elevation gradient of Doi Inthanon, the evergreen forest of Doi Suthep–Pui, the lowland belts of Mae Ping and the pheasant ridges of Doi Lang. A planned week in the cool season can produce 200 species without leaving the province.
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Climate
Climate of Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sits in a tropical-savanna climate with three distinct seasons: cool and dry from November to February, hot and increasingly hazy from March to May, and a wet southwest monsoon from June to October. The Mar–Apr burning season brings the worst air pollution of any major Thai city, with AQI often above 200. Knowing the calendar shapes every visit decision, from packing to trail choice.
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