Things to Do in Udon Thani in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Udon Thani
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
85°F (29°C)
High Temp
62°F (16°C)
Low Temp
0.2 inches (5 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Periodic haze from regional agricultural burning may reduce air quality and distant visibility, in the afternoons.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December in Udon Thani delivers the coolest, driest air of the year. Mornings dip to 16°C (62°F). Crisp air is rare in Thailand. Early temple visits and market walks feel pleasant without the usual sweat-soaked shirt.
- + Rain stays away. Red-earth paths around Ban Chiang Archaeological Site firm up. City park moats turn a clearer green. Sky stays sharp, cloudless blue. Photos pop without wet-season haze.
- + Tourist calendar tails off before New Year rush. You score dry-season weather without December 31 price increase. No flood of Bangkok weekenders yet. Hotel lobbies stay quiet. You can get a seat at popular noodle shops.
- + Harvest season for sticky rice that defines Isaan cuisine. Morning market along Prajak Road piles high with first harvest. Scent of freshly steamed khao niew drifts from every corner stall. Sweet and nutty.
Considerations
- − That 'variable' forecast is real. Rainfall stays minimal, yet a brief, intense afternoon downpour can flood sidewalks near the bus station and Nong Prajak Park in minutes. Plan around 2 to 4 PM window.
- − Humidity drops. Relief arrives with dry-season haze. December air carries faint, persistent smell of distant farm burning. Horizon mutes. Sensitive eyes and lungs may itch by late afternoon.
- − Cool, dry weather draws long-stay retirees and regional tourists. Not Bangkok-crowded, yet competition rises for tables at Som Tam Jae Daeng. Traffic around Central Plaza thickens.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site Exploration
December is the only comfy month to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. Red-earth paths between excavation pits stay dry and solid, not slippery mud. Air clears enough to see distant mountains. Morning cool lets you wander two hours without roasting. Site sits 50 km (31 miles) east of the city and feels serene.
Booking Tip: No need to book entry. Guided tours with knowledgeable local historians are worth arranging a few days ahead. Look for cultural heritage focus, not generic sightseeing. See current tour options below.
Evening Food Crawls Along Nong Prajak Park
Sun sets, temperature drops to jacket-optional chill. Concrete banks of Nong Prajak Park transform. Hawker stalls flicker under bare bulbs. Grills sizzle with Isaan specialties. Eat outdoors. Taste first-press palm sugar in som tam. Grilled meats carry cleaner wood-smoke flavor. Mortar and pestle echo across water.
Booking Tip: No booking needed. Show up hungry after 6 PM. Bring small cash. Share plates from multiple vendors. Food-focused walking tours can be booked in advance.
Countryside Cycling to Red Lotus Lake (Talay Bua Daeng)
Water levels in reservoirs and lakes stay stable in early December. 70 km (43 mile) cycle ride from Udon Thani city to Red Lotus Sea (Talay Bua Daeng) is feasible and spectacular. Lotus blooms peak December and January. Roads quiet, air cool, landscape postcard-perfect. You hear only bike chain and bird calls.
Booking Tip: Full-day, moderate ride. Book guided cycling tour with support vehicle at least a week ahead. Ensure quality mountain or hybrid bikes and boat trip onto lake. Check availability in widget.
Wat Phothisomphon & City Temple Circuit
Low humidity and angled December light make temple architecture pop. Mosaic chedi at Wat Phothisomphon gleams. Cool marble floors inside ubosot offer respite. Walk among Wat Phothisomphon, Wat Chaeng, and Wat Sutthawat. Scents of incense and candlewax mingle. Photographer's dream month.
Booking Tip: No booking for temples. Hire a local guide for half-day 'Temple Architecture' tour. Many licensed guides operate through agencies. Look for historical or artistic focus.
Night Market Shopping & Isaan Music
Nightlife means markets and Mor Lam, not clubs. December open-air venues pack tight yet breathable. Sit at plastic table in UD Town market with cold Beer Chang. Hear electrified khaen and call-and-response singing without sweating. Textile stalls stock hand-woven phaa khao ma for cool season.
Booking Tip: The best music spots stay unmarked. Ask your hotel concierge or a taxi driver for that night's 'Mor Lam' venue. For a curated experience, some cultural tours include an evening of market shopping followed by a music session.
Where to Stay in Udon Thani in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid December
Udon Thani Red Cross Fair
This is the city's major annual fair, typically held for a week or two in mid-December on the grounds near the provincial hall. It's a large, chaotic, and utterly local event. Think part-carnival with rickety Ferris wheels, part-huge market selling everything from fruit trees to kitchenware, and part-food festival with giant woks frying up every Isaan dish imaginable. The air is thick with the smell of grilled pork skewers, sugarcane juice, and diesel from the generators. It's where Udon Thani families go to see and be seen.
Packing Checklist
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View Udon Thani Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
For the best *khao soi* (curried noodle soup) in Udon Thani, head to the shophouse on Phosri Road that's been serving only that one dish since the 1980s. It's only open from 8 AM until they sell out, usually by 1 PM. The rich, coconut-based broth tastes cleaner and brighter in the cool December air.
Locals escape the afternoon heat and potential shower by ducking into the air-conditioned spot of the Udon Thani Provincial Museum. It's dated but fascinating, with excellent exhibits on the Ban Chiang discoveries and the region's role in the Vietnam War era. It's a perfect two-hour rainy day plan.
Skip the generic hotel breakfast and go to the morning market on Prajak Road before 8 AM. That's when the vendors are selling the warm, freshly-cooked *khao tom* (rice soup) and *patongo* (Chinese-style doughnuts) for dipping. You'll eat shoulder-to-shoulder with market workers for a fraction of the cost.
If you're driving yourself, note that the haze from field burning can get quite thick on the roads heading out of town, towards Khon Kaen, in the late afternoon. Visibility drops, so plan longer journeys for the morning.
Avoid These Mistakes
Packing only for 'hot weather.' That 62°F (16°C) low is real, if you're out early for a market visit or late at an open-air restaurant. You'll regret not having that light sweater.
Assuming '10 rainy days' means light drizzle. It usually means 9 days of brilliant sun and one day with a torrential, street-flooding downpour. Not planning your outdoor activities for the morning is a gamble.
Only staying in the city center. Udon Thani's charm is in its proximity to the countryside. Not allocating at least one full day to visit Ban Chiang or the Red Lotus Lake means you're missing the region's soul.
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