Articles ·
Phuket in December: weather, the sea and the start of the dry season
How much it rains in Phuket in December, how warm the days and nights are, whether you can swim and what is on during the month, based on the Thai Meteorological Department's climate normals.
December is when the dry season starts in Phuket. There is a third of November’s rain and more sunshine. Here is what to expect from the weather and what is on during the month.
The start of the dry season
According to the Thai Meteorological Department, Phuket’s dry season runs from December to March. December is its first month. Here is the 1981–2010 climate normal for the airport station:
| Month | Rain, mm | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| November | 208 | 17 |
| December | 67 | 10 |
| January | 36 | 6 |
December gets a third of November’s rain, but it still rains: ten days in the month on average. The driest month in Phuket is February; December only opens the dry season. The station in Phuket Town shows similar figures: 72 mm and 9 rainy days.
A normal is a thirty-year average. A given December can turn out drier or wetter, and the normal is not broken down by week.
Temperature and sunshine
- Days are about 31 °C, nights 23–24 °C. The daily mean is about 27 °C.
- Humidity is about 79%, down from 83% in November. In Phuket Town it is about 75%.
- Sunshine is about 180 hours a month, almost six hours a day. November gets about four and a half, January more than six.
The sea
Phuket Tourist Police warn that the southwest monsoon season brings dangerous swimming conditions to the island’s beaches. A red flag means strong currents and rough seas, and swimming is prohibited. Check the flags in any month, and go into the water only in marked swimming zones where lifeguards are on duty.
Between November and February sea turtles come ashore on Mai Khao and Nai Yang to lay their eggs. Both beaches are part of Sirinat National Park in the northwest of the island.
What is on in December
- The King’s Cup Regatta. Every December Kata hosts this sailing race.
- The Similan Islands. The national park is open from mid-October to mid-May, so boats run there in December. No more than 3,850 visitors are allowed per day.
- Public holidays. 5 December is King Bhumibol’s birthday, also National Day and Father’s Day. 10 December is Constitution Day. 31 December is New Year’s Eve. All three are public holidays in Thailand.
An evening in
December evenings in Phuket are mostly dry. But after a day at the beach or on a boat you do not always want to go out again.
We bring a PlayStation 5 to your villa, hotel or condo. The games are already installed:
- FC 25 and Mortal Kombat 1 for two on one sofa;
- GTA V, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part I, Uncharted for stories that last several evenings.
The list is as of 18 September 2026. Want to play two at a time? Ask for a second controller when you book, and we will check whether one is free for your dates.
What it costs
Low-season prices apply right now: 3 days for 1,000 ฿, a week for 2,000 ฿, a month for 4,000 ฿. We confirm the price for your dates when you book. Delivery is from 400 ฿ to Kathu and Patong up to 700–800 ฿ to Mai Khao. No deposit; you pay cash to the courier. Cancel for free until the courier has left.