In depth · Christmas & New Year
Christmas in the Thai islands: winter sun on the Andaman
Christmas falls in the heart of the Andaman’s dry season, which makes Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi one of the classic winter-sun escapes of the year.
Updated 2026-10-25
The Andaman coast at Christmas
From November to April the north-east monsoon brings dry weather and calm seas to Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and the Koh Yao islands: the season for boat trips into Phang Nga Bay, beach days on Railay and dives off Phi Phi. Christmas and New Year are its busiest weeks.
The Gulf islands in December
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao have their wettest months from October to December. Late December can bring rain and rough seas; the Gulf’s calm, dry season begins in January.
Book early
Resorts, flights from Bangkok and yacht charters fill up first over Christmas and New Year. Many resorts hold festive dinners and New Year’s Eve celebrations: check each resort’s own website for its programme.
Our advice: for Christmas sun, go west to the Andaman, and book well ahead.