# What is Thailand like in December and January, and where should you go? > Thailand in December and January: dry Bangkok and Chiang Mai, calm Andaman seas at Krabi and Phuket, a still-wet Koh Samui, peak prices and the new 30-day visa rule. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-in-december-january-weather-where-to-go - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-10-11 **December and January are Thailand's best months for most of the country: Bangkok and the north are dry and at their least hot, and the Andaman coast (Krabi, Ao Nang, Phuket, Koh Lanta) has calm seas. The exception is the Gulf islands, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, where December is still wet.** The trade-off is price: this is peak season, and roughly 20 December to early January is the most expensive and crowded fortnight of the year. One rule changed for 2026-27: from 15 September 2026, visitors from the US, UK, EU, Australia and other visa-exempt countries get **30 days**, not 60, for tourism. We spent six weeks in Thailand from 7 December 2022 to 21 January 2023, running from Bangkok north through Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son, then south to Khao Sok and Ao Nang, which is close to the route we would recommend for these two months. The weather figures below are long-term averages, not the weather of our trip. ## Quick answer: where to go in December and January • **Bangkok and central Thailand:** go. Dry, about 23 to 33°C (73 to 91°F), the least humid time of year. • **Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, Mae Hong Son:** go. The coolest, clearest months, with nights around 15°C (59°F) in Chiang Mai and colder in the hills. Burning-season haze usually starts later, from about February. • **Andaman coast (Krabi, Ao Nang, Railay, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Phi Phi):** go. The calm, dry window runs December to March. • **Khao Sok:** good. Drier trails and a calm Cheow Lan Lake. • **Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan, Tao):** risky in December, better in January, best from February. • **Avoid if you can:** booking the 24 December to 2 January window late. Prices for beach rooms and domestic flights peak then. ## December vs January, region by region **Bangkok.** Both months are dry with almost no rain. December edges January for the coolest mornings. Plan temples for early morning anyway; the sun is strong by 11am. See [Bangkok in 3 days](https://clevertourists.com/resources/bangkok-itinerary-3-days) and [where to stay in Bangkok](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-bangkok). **The north.** This is the most pronounced cool season in Thailand, with only about 10 to 20 mm of rain a month. Days reach the high 20s °C, but mornings on Doi Inthanon or in Mae Hong Son can drop close to single figures, so pack a fleece. We were in Chiang Mai from 22 to 28 December 2022 and in Chiang Rai from 28 December to 4 January. See [how many days in Chiang Mai](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-chiang-mai), [how many days in Chiang Rai](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-chiang-rai) and our [Chiang Mai guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/chiang-mai). **Andaman coast.** The northeast monsoon that soaks the Gulf blows offshore here, so seas flatten and longtail and island-hopping trips run reliably. December and January rain is light. This is the coast to choose for a Christmas beach. We spent 13 to 17 January 2023 in Ao Nang after four nights in Khao Sok; see [how many days in Ao Nang](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-ao-nang) and the [Ao Nang to Railay longtail guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/ao-nang-to-railay-longtail-boat-island-hopping-guide). **Gulf coast.** Koh Samui's wettest month is November, often around 300 mm or more on long-term averages, and December still typically sees roughly 150 to 200 mm, with rough seas that can cancel Koh Tao snorkel trips. By January rain usually falls to well under 100 mm. If Samui is the point of your trip, aim for mid-January or later; if you are travelling in December, choose the Andaman side. **Khao Sok.** Rainforest gets rain in every month, but December and January are among the driest. Cheow Lan Lake trips run year-round; read the [Khao Sok floating bungalow guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/khao-sok-cheow-lan-lake-floating-bungalow-guide) and [how many days in Khao Sok](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-khao-sok). ## Holidays and events in December 2026 and January 2027 • **5 December 2026 (Saturday):** King Bhumibol's birthday and Father's Day, with Monday 7 December listed as the substitute holiday. Expect a long weekend of domestic travel. • **10 December 2026 (Thursday):** Constitution Day. Banks and government offices close. • **24 to 25 December:** not public holidays. Malls and hotels decorate, and Bangkok's big malls are busy, but temples, markets and transport run as normal. • **31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027:** New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are holidays, making a Thursday-to-Sunday long weekend. Domestic flights, buses and beach rooms fill first. Bangkok's riverside and big malls usually host countdown fireworks; check each venue's announcement in December. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, after this window; see our [Asia festival calendar 2027](https://clevertourists.com/resources/asia-festival-holiday-calendar-2027-dates-by-country). Loy Krathong and Yi Peng fall in November, covered in our [Yi Peng 2026 guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/yi-peng-loy-krathong-2026-chiang-mai-dates-lantern-guide). ## Prices, crowds and booking lead time Peak pricing runs from about 20 December to early January, and the Andaman beaches and Koh Samui climb most. The north and Bangkok are busy but have so many rooms that late bookings are still possible. Practical moves: • **Book beach rooms and the Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper first.** The overnight train has limited berths and sells out around the holidays; see the [sleeper train guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/bangkok-to-chiang-mai-sleeper-train-first-vs-second-class-guide). • **Put the beach in mid-January.** Early January is still the holiday peak; the week after the schools restart is noticeably calmer, and you still get dry Andaman weather. • **Do the north over Christmas, the beach after New Year.** That is the shape of our own route, and it matches the weather: cool north in late December, calm seas in January. For a full cost breakdown, see [how much a trip to Thailand costs](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-much-does-a-trip-to-thailand-cost), and use Grab or Bolt in Bangkok rather than street taxis ([Grab vs Bolt](https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-grab-vs-bolt-bangkok-taxi-scams-guide)). ## Entry rules for this season: 30 days, TDAC and what to pack The Royal Gazette notices published on 31 August 2026 ended the 60-day exemption. From 15 September 2026, visitors from 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU, get **30 days visa-free, for tourism only**. That fits a December-to-January trip of up to a month, but a six-week winter like ours would now need a visa or an extension. Details are in [do I need a visa for Thailand](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-thailand). Everyone also completes the **Thailand Digital Arrival Card** online before arrival: our [TDAC guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-digital-arrival-card-tdac-how-to-fill-out-guide) walks through it. Pack for two climates: light clothes for 33°C Bangkok and the beaches, and a warm layer for northern mornings. Temples need covered shoulders and knees; see [what to wear in Thailand](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-wear-in-thailand) and the [temple dress code](https://clevertourists.com/resources/temple-dress-code-thailand). ## A December and January route that follows the weather For two weeks: 3 nights Bangkok, the overnight train to Chiang Mai for 4 nights, then fly south to Krabi for 5 to 6 nights in Ao Nang or Railay, with a day back in Bangkok before flying out. For three to four weeks, add Sukhothai and Chiang Rai on the way north and Khao Sok on the way to the coast, as our route did. Our [2-week Thailand itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-itinerary-2-weeks) and [6-week route](https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-itinerary-our-6-week-route-bangkok-north-to-the-andaman) give the day-by-day versions, and the [best time to visit Thailand](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-thailand) guide covers the other ten months. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is December a good time to visit Thailand? Yes for Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast (Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta), which are dry. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are still in their wet season in December. It is also peak season, with the highest prices from about 20 December to early January. ### Is it rainy in Thailand in January? Very little in Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast. The Gulf islands are drying out, with rain usually well under 100 mm in January on long-term averages. ### Is Koh Samui good in December? It is a gamble: November is the wettest month and December typically still gets roughly 150 to 200 mm of rain. Mid-January onwards is safer; in December, choose the Andaman coast. ### How cold is northern Thailand in December? Days reach the high 20s °C but Chiang Mai nights are around 15°C, and hill areas like Doi Inthanon and Mae Hong Son are colder, so bring a warm layer. ### How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026? Since 15 September 2026, 30 days for tourism if you hold a passport from one of the 60 visa-exempt countries, including the US, UK, EU and Australia.