If you're somewhere cold right now, scraping ice off a windshield or wearing two sweaters indoors, December in Thailand probably sounds like a fantasy. It's the middle of the cool, dry season. Rain mostly disappears, the humidity drops, and you get blue skies across almost the whole country. Ask people who've been in several different months and most of them will pick this one.
What surprises first-timers is how different the regions feel. Down south you're in swimsuit weather on bright beaches, while up north you might be on a mountaintop at sunrise in a jacket, watching your breath in the cold air.
The downside is that everyone knows December is great, so everyone comes. Hotels raise their rates, flights get expensive, and the last two weeks of the month are packed. Plenty of Thailand tour packages cost noticeably more once Christmas week starts.
Below you'll find the weather by region, the dates that save you money, a New Year's Eve plan for Bangkok, the best outdoor things to do in Thailand this month, and a packing list that handles both beach heat and mountain cold.
The weather split: sunny beaches and chilly mountains
Central and northern Thailand
Bangkok in December is about as comfortable as it ever gets. Days sit between 28 and 33°C (82 to 91°F), the humidity eases off, and rain barely shows up. The monthly average is 4.7 mm, usually spread over zero or one day. You can walk around the old town or spend a morning at Chatuchak without needing a shower every hour.
Chiang Mai and the northern valleys get clear skies, afternoons around 28°C (82°F), and evenings that drop to about 16°C (61°F). Eating at a night market with a light sweater on is one of my favorite parts of a December trip.
The mountains are a different story. On high peaks like Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep, early mornings can fall to around 5°C (41°F). If you're going up for sunrise, and you should, bring a real warm layer, because a T-shirt and a thin scarf won't get you through 5 a.m. on Thailand's highest mountain.
The Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand
Thailand's beaches sit on two seas with different weather, and in December one of them is clearly ahead.
The Andaman Coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, and the Similan Islands) is in peak dry season. Expect long sunny days between 24 and 31°C (75 to 88°F), water that looks almost glassy in the mornings, and clear visibility underwater. If you're booking Thailand honeymoon packages for December, this is the coast you want them built around.
The Gulf Coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao) is still getting over the northeast monsoon. The month averages 172.8 mm of rain across 11 to 12 days, most of it in the first half of December. By Christmas the weather usually turns sunnier, so Samui is a reasonable pick for late December and a gamble for early December.
December weather at a glance
Region | Temp range | Avg rainfall | Rainy days | Sea and beach status |
Bangkok | 28 to 33°C (82 to 91°F) | 4.7 mm | 0 to 1 | N/A |
Chiang Mai | 16 to 28°C (61 to 82°F) | Very low | Rare | N/A |
Doi Inthanon (summit) | From ~5°C (41°F) at dawn | Very low | Rare | N/A |
Andaman Coast | 24 to 31°C (75 to 88°F) | Low | Few | Calm seas, peak beach season |
Gulf Coast | Warm, humid | 172.8 mm | 11 to 12 | Rough early, improving by Christmas |
How to beat peak season crowds and prices
Go in the first half of December
If your dates are flexible, aim for December 1 to 15. The dry weather is already here and the holiday crowds aren't. Streets are calmer, temples are easier to enjoy, and prices haven't jumped yet.
Private tours average about US200perpersonperdayinearlyDecemberandUS300 or more over Christmas week. For a couple on a ten-day trip, that difference comes to roughly US$2,000.
If you're coming December 20 to January 2
The stretch between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest of the year. Night markets get crowded enough that you shuffle instead of walk, and places like the Grand Palace and Maya Bay fill up early. International flights can climb 50 to 150%, domestic flights 20 to 50%, and hotel rates often double.
Many luxury hotels and resorts also add a compulsory gala dinner to your bill if you're staying on December 31. These usually cost US80toUS200 per person, and you pay whether you go or not. They tend to sit in the booking terms where nobody looks, and they show up in a lot of resort-based holiday packages too, so read the fine print before you confirm.
December festivals and New Year's Eve
King Bhumibol's birthday and National Day (December 5)
December 5 is the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, who reigned for 70 years and is still deeply respected in Thailand. It's celebrated as National Day and as Father's Day.
Expect yellow everywhere: bunting on buildings, portraits of the late king, and marigolds along the streets, especially near the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang in Bangkok. The mood in the city is calm and respectful, and it's a nice time to be there.
Chiang Mai Design Week and Old City Walk (December 6 to 14)
During Design Week, parts of Chiang Mai fill up with art installations and open studios where you can meet local makers, and there's live jazz at the POP Market. Most of it happens around the Three Kings Monument and Tha Phae Gate in the Old City, so you can walk between events. The dates move a little each year, so check the official schedule first.
New Year's Eve in Bangkok
CentralWorld at Ratchaprasong is the big one, often called the Times Square of Asia. There's a free open-air pop concert, fireworks, and a drone show. Go if you like being in the middle of a huge, loud crowd.
ICONSIAM River Park runs a fireworks and drone show along about 1.4 km of the Chao Phraya River. The reflections on the water make it the best-looking display in the city, in my opinion.
If you'd rather skip crowds and fireworks, many temples hold midnight chanting called suat mon kham pi, which means praying through the turn of the year. Wat Pho is a beautiful place for it.
A few practical things for the night. The BTS and MRT run until 2:00 AM. Six main roads around CentralWorld close to traffic in the afternoon, with closures starting somewhere between noon and 4 PM. Carry THB 1,000 to 2,000 in small notes, because street vendors won't take foreign credit cards.
CAD sky lantern release in Chiang Mai
If you missed the November lantern festival, CAD also runs sky lantern releases at its mountain venue outside Chiang Mai. You light your own paper lantern and let it go along with hundreds of other people. It's ticketed, so check their calendar for December dates and book ahead. Releasing lanterns on your own inside the city is illegal, which makes an authorized venue like this the only way to do it.
Things to do in Thailand in December: diving and trekking
Diving on the Andaman Coast
The Similan and Surin Islands are only open from October to May, and December is one of the best months to go. The water is clear enough to see the reef from the boat, and you have a real chance of seeing manta rays and whale sharks. Most people go on a three to five day liveaboard from Khao Lak or Phuket.
If you don't want days at sea, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are two of the best dive sites in the country, and you can reach them on day trips from Koh Lanta, with some operators also leaving from Krabi or Koh Phi Phi. They're deep and the currents can be strong, so they suit divers with some experience.
Where should you dive? If you arrive before December 15, stick to the Andaman side. If you're coming after Christmas and want a cheap PADI course, Koh Tao can work as the weather clears up. For mantas and whale sharks, head to the Similans or Richelieu Rock, and if you only have one day, do Hin Daeng and Hin Muang from Koh Lanta.
Trekking and elephants in the north
December is the best month for trekking around Doi Inthanon. Trail temperatures sit around a comfortable 20°C (68°F) and the air is dry. The Kew Mae Pan Trail is the most photographed, with open ridges and views over the mountains. The Pha Dok Siew Trail is quieter and follows a stream past waterfalls and rice terraces. Both need a local guide, which you can arrange at the trailhead.
Peak season is when crowded commercial elephant camps make the most money, so be picky. Look for sanctuaries that cap visitor numbers against the number of elephants, something like 10 guests for 6 elephants, so the animals aren't passed from one tour group to the next all day.
A good camp has no riding of any kind and no bullhooks or sticks in the mahouts' hands. There's no painting, shows, or tricks, groups are small, and the elephants get time to roam and feed on their own. Staff should also be able to tell you where each elephant came from.
Getting December right
December has the best weather Thailand gets all year, and with some planning you don't have to pay holiday prices for every night of the trip. Travel between December 1 and 15 if you can. Put your beach days on the Andaman Coast, where Phuket and Krabi are sunny from the first of the month. For New Year's Eve, stay within walking distance of CentralWorld or ICONSIAM and ride the BTS home before it stops at 2:00 AM.
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the Andaman Coast together cover the places to visit in Thailand this month. Whether you plan your own route or compare Thailand tour packages, check the dates, which coast you'll be on, and whether a gala dinner is hiding in the price. Book your flights first, since they go up fastest, then lock in your Similan liveaboard or Chiang Mai stay.
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