Things to Do in Udon Thani in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
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
⚠ Agricultural burning starts mid-month. Carry N95 mask if you're sensitive to smoke. Breathe easy.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Cool enough for temple-hopping without the usual Isan sweat-fest. Mornings hit 62°F (17°C), so you can walk Ban Chiang without your shirt sticking to your back. The air feels crisp. You'll move faster, stay longer, and skip the midday retreat to AC.
- + December is harvest month. Rice fields around Nong Han Lake glow gold. Farmers set up roadside stalls selling khao niao mamuang so fresh the coconut cream is still warm. Eat it on the spot. The sweetness cuts the cool air.
- + Low-season hotel rates in Udon Thani city. The Chinese tour buses that pack Charoen Hotel lobby in October are gone. Score river-view rooms without booking three months ahead. Negotiate at the desk. They'll deal.
- + Night markets switch to winter mode. Vendors roll out charcoal braziers for mu ping. The smell of sizzling fat drifts across Thanon Adunyadet until 1 AM. Follow your nose. Bring small bills.
Considerations
- − Evenings drop to 62°F (17°C). Locals break out jackets. If you're coming straight from Bangkok you'll feel underdressed in shorts and flip-flops. Pack pants. Shivering ruins dinner.
- − Farmers burn rice stubble after harvest. Haze builds through the month. By late December you might wake to a white sky that smells faintly of smoke. Close the windows. It clears by noon.
- − Some lake-based tours on Nong Han close early. Water levels drop and operators relocate boats to Khon Kaen. Sunset trips get limited. Call ahead. Don't assume.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site Cycling Tours
December's dry breezes make the 8 km (5 mile) loop between Ban Chiang museum and the excavation pits pleasant. No mid-day furnace effect like March. Rice stubble fields around the site turn bronze. Your photos get that National Geographic contrast against the red-painted pottery replicas. Morning tours start at 8 AM when it's still 64°F (18°C). Pedal slow. You still won't melt.
Booking Tip: Book 3-4 days ahead through licensed operators. Ask for bikes with bottle cages. The museum café sells cold lao khao shots. They taste better after a ride. One is enough.
Nong Han Lake Sunset Long-tail Trips
Water levels are low but stable in December. Captains can nose right into the lotus beds for golden-hour photos. The sun drops behind Phu Phan hills at 5:45 PM, turning the lake mirror-orange. Humidity drops enough that you won't fog your camera lens. Fishermen still cast throw-nets at dusk. You'll get that timeless-Isan silhouette shot.
Booking Tip: Evening trips run 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM. Choose open-sided boats over covered ones. You'll want the 360° view. The breeze keeps mosquitoes away. Bring a sleeve.
Udon Thani Night Market Food Walks
December evenings were invented for grazing. Start at UD Night Market behind Central Plaza. The grilled-chicken guy sets up at 6 PM sharp. His gai yang is marinated in coriander root and fish sauce for 24 hours, then slapped over coals that crackle in the cool air. Follow your nose to the western edge for khao soi nuea ladled from a dented aluminum pot that's been simmering since noon. The broth turns glossy once temps drop.
Booking Tip: Self-guided works. If you want stories behind the stalls, join a small-group walk that starts at 7 PM. Most wrap by 9:30 PM before the chill sets in. Bring a friend. Share the curry.
Phu Foi Lom Eco-Park Cool-Weather Trekking
The park's 600 m (1,970 ft) elevation means December mornings can dip to 59°F (15°C). Rare for Isan. Mist hangs in the dipterocarp forest until 9 AM. The 3 km (1.9 mile) nature trail feels like hiking rather than a sweat lodge. You'll hear gibbon calls that get drowned out by cicadas in hotter months. The viewpoint over the Mekong is crystal-clear before the burn-season haze builds.
Booking Tip: Arrive by 7 AM to catch the mist. Park gates open at 6:30 AM. There's no entrance queue on weekdays. Bring a light fleece. The breeze at the viewpoint is legit chilly.
Red Lotus Sea Boat Expeditions
Peak bloom is January. But by late December the first pink carpets are already spreading across Nong Han Kumphawapi Lake. Morning temperatures hover at 63°F (17°C). You can boat without that clammy plastic-cape feeling. Fewer tourists means captains linger longer in the channels. Lotus petals show up in your photos instead of selfie sticks.
Booking Tip: Go between 6:30 AM and 8 AM. After that the flowers close and the wind picks up. Boats leave from a small pier 45 km (28 miles) south of Udon. Combine with Ban Chiang in one day to avoid backtracking. Start early.
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 to late December (usually starts third weekend)
Udon Thani Red Cross Winter Fair
The city's biggest fair takes over Thung Si Mueang park for nine days of pop-up concerts, ferris wheels and lottery booths. Locals come for grilled pork neck and live mor-lam bands that play until midnight. Travelers come for the people-watching. It's the only time you'll see Isan cowboys in leather boots sharing tables with teenage K-pop dancers.
Early December (evening of 5 Dec)
Wat Pa Ban Tat Candle Procession
On the evening of 5 December (King Bhumibol's birthday) monks at this forest temple light 1-meter (3.3-ft) beeswax candles. They circle the ordination hall three times. The orange robes glow against candlelight. The abbot gives a short bilingual sermon in Thai and Lao. A quiet counterpoint to the city's fireworks.
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View Udon Thani Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Tuk-tuk drivers quote higher rates after 8 PM because they know you're cold and lazy. Walk 100 m (330 ft) away from Central Plaza and fares drop 30%. Haggle with a smile.
The best som tam stall sets up opposite the old train station after 7 PM. Look for the mortar that's stained chili-red from years of pounding. Order medium. Thank me later.
When haze thickens, sprint to Nong Prajak park at sunrise. The lake's micro-climate traps cleaner air. Joggers swear it's the only breathable hour. Worth it.
Weekend fresh market at UD Town opens an hour earlier in December (6 AM). Vendors want to finish before the sun peaks. That's when you get still-warm khao niao sangkhaya (coconut custard sticky rice). Grab two.
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking pool-villa hotels north of the airport looks cheap. You're trapped without a car once the red-dust roads kick up. Skip this.
Assuming December means 'dry season' and skipping travel insurance is dumb. Flash floods still close highways for hours when those 10 rainy days arrive. Pack rain gear.
Showing up at Red Lotus Sea at 9 AM wastes money. Flowers close and boats queue. You'll pay full price for a 15-minute loop of green lake. Arrive earlier.
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Top-rated things to do in Udon Thani this December
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