Best of Asia · Winter sun
Where's warm in Asia in December and January?
Half of Asia is in its best season in winter. The other half is wet, windy or surprisingly cold. Here's which is which, so you don't book a beach week in the rain.
- Type: Best of Asia
- Reading time: 5 min read
- Updated: Updated 28 October 2026
By The GoTourRide team · Published 28 October 2026
The short answer
- Reliably sunny: Sri Lanka's south and west coasts, the Maldives, Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) and southern Vietnam.
- Usually good: western Malaysia (Langkawi, Penang), Goa and Kerala in India, and much of the Philippines from late December.
- Rainy then: Bali, Sri Lanka's east coast, Malaysia's east coast islands and central Vietnam.
- Cold, not warm: Hanoi, northern Vietnam, Nepal and most of China. Lovely trips, but pack a jacket.
Why it depends so much on the coast
Most of tropical Asia doesn't have summer and winter. It has a dry season and a wet one, driven by the monsoon winds. In December and January the northeast monsoon is blowing, which brings rain to coasts facing east and leaves the west-facing ones dry and calm.
That's why two beaches a few hours apart can be completely different. In Sri Lanka, Mirissa on the south coast is at its best in January, while Arugam Bay on the east coast is grey and half closed. Thailand has the same split between Phuket and Koh Samui. Once you know this, choosing gets much easier.
The warmest, driest places to go
1Sri Lanka · 28 to 31°C
Plan it with GoTourRideSri Lanka's south and west coasts
December to March is peak season on the stretch from Bentota down to Tangalle. The sea is calm enough to swim, the whales arrive off Mirissa, and Galle Fort is full of life in the evenings.
What makes Sri Lanka different from a pure beach trip is that you can add the hill country, which is fresh and green at this time of year, and the Cultural Triangle, which is mostly dry by January. Expect afternoon showers inland in December; they rarely last.
- Peak season
- Whales December to April
- Book Christmas early
- Indian Ocean · 28 to 31°CThe Maldives2
Indian Ocean · 28 to 31°C
The Maldives
The dry season runs from about December to April, with flat, clear water and the best visibility for snorkelling. It is also the most expensive time of year, especially over Christmas and New Year, when resorts often require minimum stays.
It's about 1.5 hours by air from Colombo, which is why so many people combine the two.
- Dry season
- Highest prices
- Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh LipeThailand's Andaman coast3
Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe
Thailand's Andaman coast
This is the side of Thailand you want in winter. Seas calm down by December, the limestone islands around Krabi and Phi Phi are at their most photogenic, and dive boats run to the Similan Islands, which only open for part of the year.
Koh Samui and the Gulf islands are a different story in December. They are often still catching the tail of their rainy season, which usually clears in January.
- Calm seas
- Very busy at New Year
- Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu QuocSouthern Vietnam4
Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc
Southern Vietnam
The south of Vietnam dries out from December. Phu Quoc island has warm water and sunsets over the sea, and the Mekong Delta is green and full after the rains. Just don't expect the same weather in Hanoi; the north is cool and often grey at this time.
- Dry from December
- North is cool
- Langkawi, PenangWestern Malaysia5
Langkawi, Penang
Western Malaysia
Langkawi has its driest months from December to February, and Penang's food scene is good any time. The east coast islands, such as the Perhentians and Tioman, are the opposite: many places close completely during the northeast monsoon.
- West coast only
- IndiaGoa and Kerala6
India
Goa and Kerala
India's southwest coast is in its prime: warm, dry and green after the monsoon. Goa is lively over Christmas, and Kerala is quieter, with backwaters, tea hills at Munnar and the cliffs at Varkala.
- Dry season
- Christmas in Goa is busy
- Palawan, the VisayasThe Philippines7
Palawan, the Visayas
The Philippines
The dry season usually starts in December, but late typhoons do happen in the first half of the month. From January it's a safer bet. El Nido, Coron and the islands around Cebu and Bohol are at their best from January to April.
- Safer from January
- Typhoon risk early December
Where it rains (or is cold) in December and January
None of these are bad trips. They just aren't warm beach trips at this time of year, and it's better to know before you book.
- Bali and most of Indonesia: wet season, with heavy afternoon rain. Still green and cheaper, but not reliably sunny.
- Sri Lanka's east coast (Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay): rainy and rough. It's the place to be from May to September instead.
- Malaysia's east coast islands: many resorts close from November to February.
- Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Hue, Da Nang): the rainy season often runs into December.
- Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa: 10 to 20°C, often misty. Bring layers.
- Nepal and the Himalayas: clear skies but freezing nights at altitude.
Why Sri Lanka is a strong winter pick
If you want more than lying on a beach, Sri Lanka is hard to beat in winter. In a single week you get the hills in their freshest season, the ancient cities, a safari and a warm coast at the end. Flights from Europe and the Gulf are frequent, and the time difference from Europe is only four and a half to five and a half hours in winter.
The one catch is Christmas and New Year. South coast hotels fill up months ahead and prices rise. If you can travel in the second half of January or in February, you get the same weather with more choice.
A winter week in Sri Lanka: hills, then beach
- Colombo Airport
- Kandy110 km · 3 to 4 hours
- Nuwara Eliya75 km · 2 to 2.5 hours
- Ella55 km · 1.5 to 2 hours
- Mirissa175 km · 4 to 5 hours
- Galle35 km · 1 to 1.5 hours
- Colombo Airport155 km · 2.5 to 3 hours
110 km · 3 to 4 hours
Day 1: airport pick-up and the drive up to Kandy.
75 km · 2 to 2.5 hours
Day 2: tea country, with a factory stop on the way. Bring a jumper for the evening.
55 km · 1.5 to 2 hours
Day 3: the train to Ella. Spend 2 nights and walk up Little Adam's Peak.
175 km · 4 to 5 hours
Day 5: down to the south coast for two beach days.
35 km · 1 to 1.5 hours
Day 7: Galle Fort in the morning.
155 km · 2.5 to 3 hours
Day 7: the expressway to the airport.
Trip length
7 days · about 605 km
Car and driver
About $462 ($66/day)
Family or group (minivan)
About $721
For the whole vehicle, not per person. Average day rates of drivers on GoTourRide; your driver confirms the final price before you book.
Drivers who know this trip
Not sure yet? Ask a local
Tell us when you're travelling and what you like. We'll tell you honestly whether Sri Lanka suits you and suggest a route, free.
Questions people ask
Which Asian country is warmest in December?
For warm, dry beach weather, Sri Lanka's south coast, the Maldives, Thailand's Andaman coast and southern Vietnam are the most reliable. All are usually around 28 to 31°C.
Is Sri Lanka good in December?
Yes, for the south and west coasts and the hill country. The east coast is rainy. Early December can still bring showers in the hills and the Cultural Triangle, which usually clear later in the month.
Is Bali good in January?
January is in Bali's wet season. You'll get heavy showers most days, usually in the afternoon. It's still warm and lush, but if sunshine is the priority, Sri Lanka or southern Thailand are safer choices.
Where is cheapest for winter sun in Asia?
Sri Lanka, southern Vietnam and Kerala are good value even in peak season, especially outside Christmas week. The Maldives is the most expensive, unless you stay on a local island rather than at a resort.
Keep exploring
Compare destinations
Sri Lanka or Thailand for your first trip to Asia?
Sri Lanka or Thailand for a first trip to Asia: ease of travel, beaches, temples, food, wildlife, crowds and trip length compared honestly, plus a ready 7-day Sri Lanka loop.
Trip ideas
Sri Lanka and the Maldives in one trip
How to combine Sri Lanka and the Maldives: the best months, which country to visit first, flights from Colombo to Malé, seaplane timing and a ready 7-day Sri Lanka loop.
Drive distances and times come from our road data for Sri Lanka and include normal traffic, not stops. Prices are averages from drivers on GoTourRide and change with the season and vehicle.