Thailand Weather in December

Clear blue skies, sunshine, little to no rain… it must be December in Thailand! The north is nice, cool and even a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings. Weather conditions on Koh Chang and Koh Kood are pleasant, just like they are in the Andaman Sea, Phuket and Krabi. The only islands that will see a considerable amount of rainfall are Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the southeastern Gulf of Thailand.

Bangkok and the surrounding area

Little rain, lots of sunshine and nice and cool weather: December is the best time to be in Bangkok. As opposed to the rest of the year, in December its skies are clear blue. The area around Bangkok is also worth a visit. Visit the ancient temples of Ayutthaya, explore Khao Yai National Park’s jungle, relax on Koh Samet’s white beaches and visit the Kanchanaburi bridge.

Ayutthaya – Soak up the culture and visit historical temples.
Bangkok – Thailand’s capital blends old temples with ultra modern skyscrapers.
Kanchanaburi – Town brimming with nature and history.
Khao Yai National Park – The oldest nature reserve with wild elephants.
Koh Samet – White sandy beaches, only three hours from Bangkok.

Koh Samui and the southeastern Gulf of Thailand

In December rainstorms are interspersed with sunny spells on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Expect a rainy day at least every other day. Sunny spells do occur but keep your options open when it comes to visiting other islands.

Koh Phangan – Serene island that hosts large beach parties.
Koh Samui – Popular island with long beaches and luxury accommodation.
Koh Tao – Thailand’s number 1 island for snorkeling and diving.

Chiang Mai and the North of Thailand

Chiang Mai is an amazing destination this time of year. Mornings are surprisingly chilly, with a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. Bring a warm cardigan and crawl under the wool at night – you won’t be in need of air conditioning here!

Chiang Mai – A great city surrounded by nature and rich in culture.
Chiang Rai – Gorgeous natural surroundings and best known for the white temple.
Mae Hong Son – Mountain tribes and rice fields near the Burmese border.
Pai – Hippie-at-heart mountain village nestled in Thailand’s most beautiful valley.

Phuket and Krabi

Fantastic weather, lots of sunshine, agreeable afternoon temperatures (not too warm), a calm ocean and crystal clear water: it’s nice to be on Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Krabi in December. Enjoy the weather, the beach, the islands; but keep in mind that you won’t be the only one on holiday here!

Khao Sok National Park – Wake up in a straw cabin on a clear blue lake.
Koh Jum – Small-scale tourism near Koh Phi Phi.
Koh Lanta – Laid-back atmosphere and nice beaches.
Koh Phayam – Gorgeous but underdeveloped island.
Koh Phi Phi – Thailand’s number 1 tropical party island.
Koh Yao Yai – Big island with long and empty beaches.
Krabi (Ao Nang) – The perfect place to start your island-hopping adventure.
Phuket – Thailand’s largest island, best known for its beaches.

Koh Chang and the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

The weather on the Koh Chang Archipelago is tropical in December. Little rain, lots of sunshine, nice temperatures and an ever so slight windy breeze. In short: a great December destination. Unfortunately, since Koh Chang isn’t that much of a secret anymore, you will be sharing the islands with many other tourists.

Koh Chang – Pleasant island with beautiful beaches and a laid-back atmosphere.
Koh Kood – A gorgeous, and partially unspoiled, island.
Koh Mak – Small-scale tourism, laid-back atmosphere.
Koh Wai – Snorkeling island between Koh Chang and Koh Kood.

Koh Lipe and the Trang islands

The dry season is in full swing – also on Koh Lipe. The previous seven months have brought a lot of rainfall, but the coming months are all about sunshine. It will still rain occasionally, but it’s mainly dry and sunny. It will be a bit cloudy, but a little shade never hurt anyone!

Koh Lipe – Tropical island, home to Thailand’s most beautiful beaches.
Koh Mook – Small-scale tourism and a spectacular cave.
Koh Ngai – Long golden beaches and no roads.
Koh Tarutao – National park, a former prison island, and camping site.

Isan region

Little rain, sunny days, cool temperatures: what a great time to explore Thailand’s northeast. Some places can get surprisingly chilly at night, so bring a warm cardigan!

Pha Taem National Park – Ancient murals along the Mekong River.
Phimai – Thailand’s most beautiful Angkor Wat temples.
Ubon Ratchathani – Large city in Isan region with many sights.
Udon Thani – Large city near the Lao border, but famous mainly for its Red Lotus Sea.

Monthly weather overview