December is, in my view, the finest month to visit Phuket. I’ve been saying this for years and I’ll keep saying it. The dry season has fully established itself, the sea is at its best, the light in the late afternoon is extraordinary, and the island is at peak energy without yet having hit the absolute crowds of January and February.
That said, December requires planning in a way that other months don’t. Here’s everything you need to know.
The northeast monsoon has replaced the southwest by December, bringing dry conditions to the Andaman coast. Rain is possible but rare — brief showers rather than sustained rain. Average daytime temperature is 29–32°C with lower humidity than the wet season. The sea is calm on the western beaches and the underwater visibility at Phi Phi can reach 20 metres or more in ideal conditions. The late afternoon light, particularly in early December, has a quality that’s difficult to describe to someone who hasn’t seen it — low, warm, and extraordinarily photogenic.
The best speedboat crossing conditions of the year. Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay, the Racha Islands — all accessible on almost every day. Cancellations due to weather are rare in December. If you’ve been frustrated by wet-season rescheduling on a previous trip, December is when the reliability is as high as it gets.
The combination of dry air, lower sun angle, and clear skies makes December light particularly beautiful on the water and on the limestone karst islands. The James Bond Sunset Experience in December — the light hitting the Phang Nga Bay islands in the late afternoon — is the version of that trip I’d rank most highly of all twelve months.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Phuket have a particular energy. The island is busy and buzzy in the best sense, the beach clubs and restaurants do special events, the hotels go all in on decorations, and there’s a festive atmosphere that coexists oddly but pleasantly with the tropical setting. Christmas on a beach is its own kind of experience.
December is peak season and it fills up. This is the single most important planning note for any December visit.
Boat trips: our December departures for Phi Phi and the James Bond Sunset Experience book out weeks in advance.Places fill up fast. Book as early as you possibly can. The difference between booking in September and booking in November for a Christmas week trip can be the difference between getting your preferred date and taking what’s left.
Accommodation: the same applies. December room rates are at their annual peak and availability at good hotels drops quickly. If you have a specific property in mind, book it the moment flights are confirmed.
Private charters: especially for groups celebrating Christmas or New Year on the water, private charters in December book very early.
New Year’s Eve in Phuket
This deserves its own note. New Year’s Eve in Phuket is spectacular and chaotic in equal measure. Patong Beach does the big countdown with fireworks visible from the water and street celebrations that are genuinely impressive. Most beach areas do their own events. The island pulls out all the stops.
For the full month-by-month picture on conditions and boat trip timing, our guide to the best time of year for boat trips in Phuket has everything you need.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
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