Asia

Thailand in December

Superb everywhere except a rain-prone Gulf early in the month. Christmas to New Year is the single most booked, most expensive stretch of the year.

BestDry, sunny, the year's most comfortable air, highs near 88F (31C)

Longtail boats at Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand — ThailandPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Thailand. Superb everywhere except a rain-prone Gulf early in the month. Christmas to New Year is the single most booked, most expensive stretch of the year.

Weather: Dry, sunny, the year's most comfortable air, highs near 88F (31C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What December is like in Thailand

December has the year's most comfortable air in Thailand. Days are dry and sunny, with highs near 88F (31C), and the north has cool mornings. The Andaman coast is superb. The Gulf coast can still be rainy early in the month. Christmas to New Year is the single most booked and most expensive stretch of the year.

This month suits everyone, especially families on winter break and couples wanting a warm escape. The catch is price and demand over the holidays. Book early, or go in the first half of December for great weather at slightly lower rates.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Thailand this month.

Perfect beach weather

The Andaman side has clear skies and calm seas for Railay, Krabi, and island trips.

Cool northern mornings

Chiang Mai and Doi Suthep are fresh and clear, great for temples and markets.

Bangkok street food at its best

Comfortable evenings make a Chinatown food crawl easy.

What to pack for December

A light sweater for the north
Swimwear and a rash guard
Reef-safe sunscreen
Temple cover-ups

Our timing tip

Travel in the first two weeks of December to get peak weather before holiday prices hit.

Book Thailand for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Thailand
Opens a hotel search for Thailand in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Thailand
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Thailand
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Thailand for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Andaman high season

November through April

Calm seas open every ferry route and dive site on the west coast, including the Similan Islands park, which closes roughly mid May to mid October.

Things to do in Thailand

Full guide

Bangkok's Grand Palace and Wat Pho

The gold-spired heart of Thai royalty and the giant Reclining Buddha next door. Go at opening, dress with covered shoulders and knees, and ignore anyone outside saying it is closed.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Bangkok street food crawl

Chinatown (Yaowarat) after dark is the classic run. Follow the lines of locals; the busiest stall is the menu.

Tickets and tours →

Chiang Mai's old city and temples

Moat-ringed lanes, hundreds of temples, and the mountain shrine of Doi Suthep above town. Best November through January; skip burning season in late winter.

Tickets and tours →

Railay and Krabi's limestone coast

Karst cliffs straight out of a painting, reachable only by longtail boat. Calm seas and full boat schedules run roughly November through April.

Tickets and tours →

Koh Phi Phi and Maya Bay

The famous bay operates with visitor limits and seasonal closures to let the ecosystem recover. Check current rules and book the earliest boat.

Tickets and tours →

Gulf islands: Samui, Phangan, Tao

Resorts on Samui, full-moon energy on Phangan, and some of the world's cheapest dive certification on Koh Tao. At their best when the Andaman side is stormy.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Go in November or February: you get the cool-season weather of the December-January peak with a real step down in crowds and prices.
Pick one second-tier island (Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Kood) over the marquee names; the beach is the same postcard with half the longtail traffic.
In Bangkok, see the Grand Palace at opening or after 3pm, and ride the river boats and BTS instead of sitting in taxi traffic.
Book Christmas to New Year and Songkran-week transport like concert tickets, months out. The rest of high season needs only days to weeks of lead time.

Know before you go

Andaman-coast monsoon (roughly May through October): some island ferry routes stop, boat trips cancel in rough seas, and the Similan Islands national park closes entirely, typically mid May to mid October.
Maya Bay and several marine parks now enforce visitor caps and seasonal closures for ecological recovery; rules change year to year, so check before promising anyone the famous beach.
Songkran (mid April) closes many offices and small businesses for days while the whole country travels; tourist attractions stay open and very wet.
During the Gulf coast's wettest stretch (roughly October into December), Koh Tao dive trips and Samui beach days get rain-checked; the Andaman side is simultaneously reopening.