Things to Do in Chiang Mai in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Chiang Mai
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December marks the start of the cool-and-dry season: daytime highs of 84°F (29°C) and nights dropping to a pleasant 62°F (17°C) so you can sleep without air-con for the first time since March
- Morning haze from rice-straw burning has usually cleared by mid-December, giving you crisp views of Doi Suthep from the old city walls
- Markets are flush with winter produce - tiny mandarins, Chiang Dao strawberries, and the first coffee cherries of the season at the Saturday Walking Street
- Hotel rates are still shoulder-season cheap; most properties drop prices 15-25% after the first week of December before Christmas demand kicks in
Considerations
- By late December, Chinese New Year package tours start arriving - expect tour buses at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep from 9 AM onward and selfie-stick traffic jams on the temple stairs
- Evenings can dip below 60°F (16°C) in the valleys around Mae Hong Son; if you're motorcycle-camping, you'll need layers you probably didn't pack for Thailand
- Air quality occasionally spikes PM2.5 levels during field-burning days - locals check the AirVisual app before outdoor temple visits
Best Activities in December
Mae Taeng River White-Water Rafting
December water levels are perfect - high enough after rainy season for Class III-IV rapids, but clear and warm enough that capsizing isn't hypothermia-inducing. The 10 km (6.2 mile) stretch from Pong Dueat to Sop Kai runs between bamboo forests still green from late rains, with hornbill sightings most mornings.
Old City Temple Cycling Routes
December mornings start at 64°F (18°C) - ideal for cycling 5 km (3.1 miles) of flat lanes between 14th-century temples before the sun gets vicious. The route from Wat Chedi Luang to Wat Chiang Man takes you past morning alms processions and coffee carts where monks stop for iced coffee in plastic bags.
Doi Inthanon Highland Trekking
Thailand's highest peak at 2,565 m (8,415 ft) drops to 45°F (7°C) at dawn in December - bring the fleece you thought you'd never use. The Kew Mae Pan boardwalk trail is open again after rainy season closures, with 360-degree views across cloud valleys that are cloud-free this month.
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs Day Trips
The 40°C (104°F) mineral pools feel perfect when air temp is 75°F (24°C) instead of 95°F (35°C). December is when locals come for sulfur egg-boiling - buy a basket of quail eggs for 10 baht and lower them into the steaming vents while your feet soak in the adjacent pools.
Night Bazaar Food Walks
Cooler evenings mean you can enjoy the steam from sizzling pans without melting. December specialties include sai ua (Chiang Mai herb sausage) at the same stall that's been there 40 years, and warm khao soi served in metal bowls that keep the curry hot while you wander.
December Events & Festivals
Chiang Mai Red Cross & Winter Fair
Runs the last two weeks of December at the Provincial Stadium. Where locals go for carnival games, lottery ticket trees, and the only place to find every northern Thai dish in one location. The Ferris wheel gives you city views and the agricultural booths sell coffee you can't find anywhere else.
Lanna New Year Countdown at Tha Phae Gate
Chiang Mai's answer to Times Square - lantern releases, traditional dance on mobile stages, and fireworks that reflect off the moat. Locals arrive at 8 PM to claim spots; by 11 PM it's shoulder-to-shoulder with sticky rice vendors threading through the crowd.