Which part of Thailand is best in December?

December is one of the few months where most of Thailand is simultaneously in good condition. Here's where to put your time.

Best for beaches: the Andaman coast

Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Phi Phi are all in full dry season. This is the clear answer for beach holidays in December. The Similan Islands are open and running full liveaboard schedules. Dive visibility is 20-25m. Day trips operate daily. West coast beaches have flat, clear water.

The specific December advantage over January: the first three weeks of December have the same beach conditions as January at 15-20% lower accommodation costs and noticeably thinner crowds. By Christmas week, the prices and crowds both spike. For a beach trip, December 1-20 is the window.

Alternatives within the Andaman region: Koh Yao Noi (between Phuket and Krabi, small island with minimal mass tourism), Koh Lipe (far south near Malaysia, excellent conditions but more remote logistics), and Koh Mook or Koh Ngai (near Trang, quieter and accessible from Krabi).

Best for culture and trekking: the north

December is the best month for Chiang Mai. The cool season brings 10-15°C nights, 22-27°C days, clean air, and still-green landscapes from the monsoon. Doi Inthanon is at its most dramatic, with clear views and, in exceptional cold years, frost at the summit. Chiang Rai's temples and the Mae Salong tea mountain area are at their most comfortable for walking and exploring.

Trekking routes north of Chiang Mai into the hill tribe villages are well-maintained after the monsoon has cleared them, the undergrowth is manageable, and the scenery is at its clear-skied best.

Best for city travel: Bangkok

Bangkok in December is genuinely pleasant to walk around. Daytime temperatures of 24-28°C and cooler evenings make the city's temple circuit, markets, and street food neighbourhoods comfortable in a way they simply aren't in April. The night markets, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Yaowarat (Chinatown) are all at their most visited of the year in December, but the early morning temple visits (6-8am) are still uncrowded.

The Gulf coast

Koh Samui is still recovering from the October-November rainy season in early December. The second half of December is typically fine. Koh Tao is more consistently good from early December because it's more sheltered from the northeast monsoon. If Gulf islands are the choice, Koh Tao is the safer December bet; Samui is better from mid-December.

For the full December breakdown, see our Thailand in December guide.