Warmest Places to Visit in December: Hot, Warm and Dry, Ranked
December is the month Indian travellers most often go looking for heat, and most lists answer the question badly. They rank destinations by temperature alone, which is why people end up in Koh Samui or Bali in December wondering why it is 31°C and raining every afternoon. Warm and dry are two different questions, and in December they diverge sharply. This guide gives you both: actual December temperatures, sea temperatures where you would swim, and an honest split between the places that are hot and dry and the ones that are hot and wet.
Three kinds of warm
"Warm in December" covers a range from 33°C to 20°C, and those are completely different holidays. Pick the tier before you pick the country.
| Tier | Daytime | Feels like | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Properly hot | 30 to 33°C | Shorts, shade, sea | Maldives, Thailand, Singapore, Zanzibar, Perth |
| Comfortably warm | 25 to 30°C | Warm days, light layer at night | Dubai, Muscat, Mauritius, Sydney, Cape Town |
| Mild, not hot | 20 to 25°C | Comfortable for walking, cool evenings | Egypt, Canary Islands, Marrakech |
The mild tier is worth taking seriously. If your plan involves temples, ruins or a lot of walking, 24°C is far better than 32°C. Egypt is a winter destination precisely because Luxor is unbearable in summer.
Hot and dry: the December sweet spot
These are warm, sunny and in their dry season simultaneously. Approximate December averages.
| Where | Day | Sea | Why December works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maldives | ~30°C | ~28°C | Northeast monsoon brings the dry season. Peak visibility for diving. |
| Krabi and Phuket | ~31°C | ~29°C | Andaman coast at its driest and calmest. |
| Colombo and Galle | ~30°C | ~28°C | West and south coasts move into dry season. |
| Singapore | ~30°C | n/a | Wetter month, but showers are short and the city is indoors anyway. |
| Zanzibar | ~31°C | ~28°C | Short rains ending, hot and increasingly clear. |
| Perth | ~30°C | ~21°C | Australian summer. Dry, long evenings, and the sea is bracing. |
| Mauritius | ~29°C | ~27°C | Start of summer. Warm sea, occasional shower. |
Hot but wet: warm, and you should know
These are genuinely warm in December and also in their rainy season. That does not make them bad choices, and prices drop noticeably. It does mean planning around afternoon rain rather than being surprised by it.
| Where | Day | The situation |
|---|---|---|
| Bali | ~31°C | Indonesian wet season runs roughly November to March. Heavy afternoon showers, green landscapes, lower prices. |
| Koh Samui and the Gulf coast | ~29°C | The Gulf's wettest stretch, while the Andaman coast a few hundred kilometres west is dry. |
| Trincomalee and Arugam Bay | ~29°C | Sri Lanka's east coast is in its monsoon while the south is dry. |
| Cairns and Darwin | 32 to 33°C | Australian tropical wet season. Hot, humid, and jellyfish season on the beaches. |
| Malaysia's east coast | ~29°C | Northeast monsoon. Perhentian and Tioman resorts largely close. |
The two-coast rule
Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia each have two coasts with opposite rainy seasons, and December is exactly when they diverge. In every case the answer in December is the west or south coast: Phuket and Krabi rather than Koh Samui, Galle and Mirissa rather than Trincomalee, Langkawi and Penang rather than the Perhentians.
This is the single most common December booking error made from India, and it costs nothing to avoid.
Comfortably warm and reliably dry
Not beach-hot, but sunny, dry and easy. These suit sightseeing far better than the tropics do.
| Where | Day | Night | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai and the UAE | ~26°C | ~17°C | The month the city becomes pleasant. Outdoor dining, desert, beaches. |
| Muscat, Oman | ~26°C | ~19°C | Wadis, forts and coast without the heat. |
| Luxor and Aswan | 24 to 26°C | ~10°C | The only comfortable temple season. Bring a jacket for evenings. |
| Red Sea: Hurghada, Sharm | ~24°C | ~14°C | Diving and snorkelling with a sea around 23°C. |
| Sydney | ~26°C | ~19°C | Summer, long evenings, and Christmas on a beach. |
| Cape Town | ~26°C | ~16°C | Southern summer, wine country, Table Mountain. |
| Canary Islands | ~22°C | ~16°C | Europe's warmest winter, and Schengen-accessible. |
Choosing between them
| If you want | Go to | Because |
|---|---|---|
| The warmest sea | Maldives or Krabi | Around 28 to 29°C, warm enough to stay in all afternoon |
| The shortest flight | Sri Lanka or Dubai | Under 4 hours from most Indian metros |
| Heat without humidity | Muscat or Egypt | Dry desert warmth rather than tropical closeness |
| Best value | Sri Lanka or Thailand | Warm, dry and inexpensive at the same time |
| A summer Christmas | Sydney or Perth | Seasons reversed, and the whole country is on holiday |
| Warmth plus sightseeing | Egypt | 24°C is right for temples. 32°C is not. |
| Lower prices, and you'll take the rain | Bali | Wet season pricing, green landscapes, short sharp showers |
How quickly you can actually go
December plans are often made late. Entry requirements decide whether that is possible.
| Destination | For Indian passports | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | ETA, currently free | 24 to 72 hours |
| Malaysia | Visa-free 30 days, plus free MDAC card | Days |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival | None |
| Indonesia | Visa on arrival, plus Bali tourist levy | None to days |
| Thailand | Rules changed twice in 2026. Confirm current position. | Check |
| UAE | Visa arranged in advance via airline, hotel or agent | 2 to 5 days |
| Egypt | e-Visa in advance for most Indians | 5 to 7 working days |
| Australia | Visitor visa, subclass 600 | Weeks. Not a late decision. |
Requirements change regularly, so confirm on the official government portal before booking flights. If it is your first application for a country, having an agent or your tour operator review it is worth the small cost.
What to actually pack
Warm destinations catch people out in two ways: the evenings, and the sun.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| A light jacket or shawl | Desert nights drop to 10°C in Luxor and 14°C on the Red Sea. Aircraft and malls are cold everywhere. |
| Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50 | December sun near the equator is stronger than Indian winter sun. Several destinations now restrict certain sunscreens. |
| A rain layer if you're going tropical | Bali, Singapore and the Gulf coasts all see December showers. |
| Modest clothing for religious sites | Shoulders and knees covered in the UAE, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia. |
| The right plug adapter | Type G in the UAE, Malaysia and Maldives. Type A and B in Thailand. Type I in Australia. Type C in Egypt and Indonesia. |
| Insect repellent | More relevant in the wet-season destinations. |
The thing to sort before you fly
December is peak travel season, which means airport SIM counters are at their busiest exactly when you land tired. Several of these countries also require identity registration before a local SIM will activate.
An eSIM installs at home and connects the moment you switch on, which is when you want maps, a ride app and a message home.
| Destination | Matrix plan | From |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Unlimited or 50 GB on DTAC | ₹899 |
| Sri Lanka | 20 GB, 30 days | ₹2,536 |
| UAE | All seven emirates | ₹599 |
| Indonesia | 10 GB or unlimited | ₹599 |
| Malaysia | 50 GB or 100 GB | ₹599 |
| Egypt | Orange network, 30 days | ₹707 |
| Australia | 10 GB, 30 days | ₹499 |
One thing to know about the UAE and Egypt
Both restrict Voice over IP, which means WhatsApp voice and video calls do not connect on local networks. Messaging works normally. Keep your Indian SIM on international roaming service so real calls still work, or install a paid VPN before you travel.
Book the sun, sort the phone
Ten minutes at home, and you land with maps, ride apps and messaging already working, rather than queueing at a SIM counter in peak season.
Browse Matrix eSIM plans by destination →
- Plans for more than 190 countries, from ₹499
- Installs at home, connects the moment you land
- Hotspot on fixed data plans, so one plan can cover a travel partner
- Regional plans for multi-country trips
- Your Indian SIM stays in the phone for OTPs and WhatsApp
- Support on +91 9811188888, live chat and WhatsApp
Read next
- 11 Best Places to Visit in December in the World
- Best eSIM for Thailand in 2026
- Best eSIM for Sri Lanka in 2026
- Best Countries to Visit Without a Visa
Frequently asked questions
Where is warmest in December?
The tropics sit around 30 to 33°C. Cairns and Darwin in Australia are among the hottest at 32 to 33°C, though both are in their wet season. For warm and dry together, the Maldives, Thailand's Andaman coast, Sri Lanka's south coast and Zanzibar are the strongest picks at around 30 to 31°C.
Is Bali good in December?
It is warm, at around 31°C, and it is also the wet season. Expect heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day rain, greener landscapes and noticeably lower prices. Many travellers consider that a fair trade.
Which side of Thailand should I visit in December?
The Andaman coast, which includes Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. The Gulf coast, including Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, is in its wettest stretch in December. The two coasts have opposite seasons.
Where is the warmest sea in December?
Around 28 to 29°C in the Maldives, Krabi, Sri Lanka's south coast and Zanzibar. That is warm enough to swim for hours. Perth is 30°C on land but only about 21°C in the water.
Is Dubai hot in December?
Comfortably warm rather than hot, at around 26°C by day and 17°C at night. December is when Dubai becomes genuinely pleasant, with the Shopping Festival running and outdoor life resuming across the city.
Where can I go at short notice in December?
Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Maldives and Indonesia all have fast or no visa processes for Indian passport holders. Australia needs a visitor visa that takes weeks, so it is not a late decision.
Is Egypt warm enough in December?
Luxor and Aswan sit around 24 to 26°C by day, which is ideal for temples. Nights drop close to 10°C, so pack a jacket. It is the only genuinely comfortable season for Upper Egypt.
What should I pack for a warm December trip?
SPF 50, a light jacket for evenings and aircraft, modest clothing for religious sites, the right plug adapter, and a rain layer if you are heading anywhere tropical.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Dubai and Egypt?
No. Both restrict VoIP, so WhatsApp voice and video calls do not connect, though messaging works normally. Keep your Indian SIM on roaming service for real calls, or set up a paid VPN before travelling.
Why are December flights so expensive?
Demand peaks between roughly 18 December and 5 January as school holidays overlap worldwide. Travelling in the first two weeks of December is often substantially cheaper for the same weather.
