Thailand Infos

Thailand in December: weather, best places and festivals

With 12 of 20 places dry, December is one of the best months. Bangkok has 6 millimetres, Hua Hin and Pattaya 8, Chiang Mai 16, Koh Chang and Koh Kood 21. Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak, at 62 to 72 millimetres, are just above the limit and count as changeable.

The Gulf is still wet, with 210 millimetres on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. In Chiang Rai it is 27 degrees by day and 14 at night; in no month is it cooler there by day. Around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, flights, ferries and rooms are full and expensive.

All 20 destinations in December

Sorted by rain, driest first. The figures are monthly averages from 1981 to 2010; the temperature is the average daily high.

dry 12 places

Under 60 millimetres of rain a month.

Sandstone Khmer temple Phanom Rung in warm afternoon light, with green rice fields in front in northeastern ThailandIsan4 mm30 °C, 17 °C at nightKhmer temples and the MekongWat Arun on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok at sunset, with a longtail boat on the water in frontBangkok6 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightTemples, the river and street food stallsThe steel Bridge on the River Kwai with its curved arches over the calm river in warm evening light, green trees on the bank and mountains in the backgroundKanchanaburi6 mm31 °C, 20 °C at nightBridge on the River Kwai and waterfallsThree restored bell-shaped chedis of Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya in warm morning light, with lawn and old brick walls in frontAyutthaya7 mm31 °C, 20 °C at nightOld royal capital on the riverCurved sandy beach of Hua Hin in warm evening light, with a green hill and a golden temple at the end of the bay and fishing boats in the waterHua Hin8 mm30 °C, 22 °C at nightQuiet seaside resort on the GulfPattaya beach promenade in the evening with palm trees, a curved bay and high-rises in the backgroundPattaya8 mm30 °C, 22 °C at nightBeach city close to BangkokMisty green Pai valley at sunrise with gentle mountains and a small bamboo bridge over rice fieldsPai10 mm29 °C, 15 °C at nightMountain valley in the north-westWhite Temple Wat Rong Khun with sparkling mirror decorations in calm morning light, a pond with a reflection in front and green hills behind in northern ThailandChiang Rai14 mm27 °C, 14 °C at nightWhite Temple and the Golden TriangleGolden chedi of a temple on a wooded hill, surrounded by mist, rice terraces and mountains in northern Thailand, seen from aboveChiang Mai16 mm29 °C, 16 °C at nightTemples and mountains in the northQuiet bay on Koh Chang with pale sandy beach, palms and turquoise water, steep, densely wooded mountains with clouds behind, a longtail boat in the shallow waterKoh Chang21 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightGreen mountain island in the eastQuiet beach on Koh Kood with leaning coconut palms and a wooden jetty reaching into calm turquoise waterKoh Kood21 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightQuiet island without a 7-ElevenLong, almost empty sandy beach on the west coast of Koh Lanta in evening light, casuarinas and palms on the shore, a longtail boat in calm waterKoh Lanta56 mm31 °C, 24 °C at nightQuiet island off Krabi

changeable 5 places

60 to 150 millimetres, expect showers.

Wide, quiet sandy beach at Khao Lak in the morning light, lined with casuarina trees and coconut palms, wooded hills behind, calm Andaman SeaKhao Lak62 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightLong beaches north of PhuketFloating bamboo raft houses on the emerald-green Cheow Lan Lake, with steep limestone cliffs behind in the morning hazeKhao Sok62 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightRainforest and Cheow Lan LakeTwo longtail boats in a turquoise bay with a white sandy beach, limestone cliffs and coral near Krabi and the Phi Phi IslandsKrabi & Phi Phi68 mm31 °C, 22 °C at nightLimestone cliffs and islandsWhite sandy beach on Phuket with longtail boats in the turquoise water of the Andaman Sea, green hills behindPhuket72 mm32 °C, 24 °C at nightBeaches, old town and islandsClear turquoise shallow water and a white sandy beach on Koh Lipe, with longtail boats with colourful ribbons in front and a small island in the backgroundKoh Lipe97 mm32 °C, 23 °C at nightSmall island in the far south

rainy season 3 places

Over 150 millimetres, the rain shapes the day.

Half-moon bay with white sand and coconut palms on Koh Phangan, green hills behind, a longtail boat in the shallow turquoise waterKoh Phangan210 mm29 °C, 24 °C at nightQuiet bays, loud full moon nightsWhite sand beach with leaning coconut palms and turquoise sea, with a golden Buddha statue on a headland in the background on Koh SamuiKoh Samui210 mm29 °C, 24 °C at nightPalm island in the GulfThree small green islands joined by a white sandbar, surrounded by clear turquoise water at Koh TaoKoh Tao210 mm29 °C, 24 °C at nightSmall island for divers

For places without a weather station of their own, the figures of the nearest station apply: Ayutthaya (Suphan Buri station), Khao Lak and Khao Sok (Takua Pa station), Koh Chang and Koh Kood (Trat station), Koh Lipe (Satun station), Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (Koh Samui station) and Pai (Mae Hong Son station). More places and every month in detail are on the weather page.

Festivals and public holidays in December

  • 5 December 2026King Bhumibol’s Birthday, Father’s DayPublic holiday, nationwideNational day, celebrated at Sanam Luang. Substitute holiday on Monday, 7 December.
  • 7 December 2026Substitute holiday for 5 DecemberSubstitute holiday, nationwideDay in lieu. Long weekend.Banks closedOffices closed
  • 10 December 2026Constitution DayPublic holiday, nationwideCommemorates the 1932 constitution.Banks closedOffices closed
  • 24 December 2026Full Moon PartyParty, Koh PhanganFull moon party on Christmas Eve. High season, very expensive.
  • 31 December 2026New Year’s EvePublic holiday, nationwideEnd of the year, countdown parties. Peak prices, ferries and flights full.Banks closedOffices closed

All dates of the year are in the festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions: Thailand in December

Where is it dry in Thailand in December?

12 of 20 places stay under 60 millimetres of rain in December: Isan, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Pai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Lanta. It is changeable, meaning between 60 and 150 millimetres, in Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Krabi & Phi Phi, Phuket and Koh Lipe.

How warm is it in Thailand in December?

By day the average ranges from 27 degrees in Chiang Rai to 32 degrees in Bangkok. The coolest nights are in Chiang Rai, at an average of 14 degrees.

Is December the start of the season on the Andaman Sea?

Yes. Phuket has 72, Krabi 68 and Khao Lak 62 millimetres, while Koh Lanta stays dry at 56. From January the rain drops further, and Phuket is then at 30 millimetres.

How the seasons are spread over the year is covered in the guide Best time to visit Thailand. All twelve months at a glance: the best time to visit overview. Also useful: the costs per day and the visa calculator.

Sources

  1. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), climate averages 1981 to 2010, rounded
  2. The Nation: Bank of Thailand sets 18 bank holidays for 2027 (28 August 2026)
  3. Bank of Thailand: financial institutions’ holidays 2026
  4. Bank of Thailand Notification 37/2569: holidays 2027 (via tnews, 26 August 2026)
  5. Sanook: holidays 2027 (7 September 2026)
  6. myhora: Loy Krathong dates
  7. Full Moon Party Thailand: dates
  8. Straits Times: alcohol sales ban on Buddhist holidays
  9. The Nation: exemptions from the alcohol ban
  10. Surin Elephant Festival