Where to go when guide
Tied to school vacations, keen to miss the monsoon season or hoping for an off season deal?
Where to go on vacation in December
December offers lots of vacation options, from festive classics like log cabin stays in frosted Finnish Lapland, to off-season surprises, such as cultural tours of Morocco’s cities and mountains. Northern Europe is a family-friendly favorite; smaller children love seeing Santa and can learn about Sámi reindeer culture, while winter multi-activity tours appeal to teens and adults alike. For warmer weather, head to Caribbean waters, where Costa Rica’s rainy season has left its foliage lush and green. In Asia, it’s dry and not too hot, perfect for island hopping, wildlife spotting and adventurous activities. Want to know where not to go? December is not a good time for southern Europe, which is wet and cold, China which is freezing and northern Brazil, which is very busy and hot.
Antarctic Peninsula
December signals the start of the expedition cruise season; the icebergs have broken up enough to let small cruise ships pass through and get close enough to see the wonderful wildlife. And what a show; you’ll arrive as the first penguin chicks hatch and seal pups are born. Antarctica’s warmer weather and longer days, and lots to look at, mean places go quickly – booking early is essential.
Costa Rica
A tropical climate and landscapes that range from mountains to cloud forest mean weather in Costa Rica can be variable.. Go In late December when it’s dry but green – just don’t forget your waterproofs, this is still a rainforest. If you’re not the traditional type, you can swap Christmas customs for warm days spent wildlife watching – this is when animals are easier to spot.
Finland
Where could be more festive in December than Lapland, home of Father Christmas himself? Families often flock to Finland to see Santa, so it can be a bit busy. Bear in mind also that, in December, Finland will be dark, with only a few hours of sunlight each day. Still, it’s the best time of year to see the night sky illuminated by the spectacular Northern Lights.
India
December is a popular time to visit India. In tourist areas like Kerala and the Golden Triangle, it’s dry but it’s not too hot – in Jaipur, Rajasthan, expect an average daily high of 24°C in December – well before temperatures soar in spring. In Cochin, Kerala, expect an average daily high of 31°C in December, and for it to be cooler if you head inland and uphill into the Western Ghats and the tea plantations around Munnar.
Morocco
It’s not hot in Morocco in December, but that makes it ideal touring weather. In Marrakech you can expect a daily high of around 19°C, but its generally dry and sunny and temperatures drop at night under clear, chilly skies – this means if you head to the Moroccan Sahara you should bundle up at night, as temperatures plunge to single figures. In the Atlas Mountains you can expect snow – making climbing Mount Toubkal a challenging winter trek.
Thailand
In December, Thailand is dry and its temperatures have started to dip, making active vacations more manageable. It’s the best time of year for trekking, which you can do with tours that operate alongside the local Thai hill tribes. It’s a festive time of year here too, and parts of the island will be awash with colourful celebrations: Chiang Rai Flower Festival and the Colours of Doi Tung Festival.
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
US $5330 to US $7405
15 days
ex flights
Northern lights family vacation, tailor made
An Aurora-cabin glass roofed experience in Finnish Lapland
From
£1465
4 days
inc UK flights
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
India´s best experiences including the Taj Mahal & Tigers
From
£1424 to £1570
10 days
ex flights
Northern Lights activity break in Finland, Arctic Hills
Experience the wilderness by car, snowmobile, skies, huskies
From
€2650 to €2800
6 days
ex flights
Finland Northern Lights vacation, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities and Northern Lights in Finland
From
£2025 to £2475
5 days
inc UK flights
Classic Antarctica cruise & South Shetland Islands
Adventure through Antarctica’s breathtaking frozen realm
From
£6799 to £8899
11 days
ex flights
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December vacation advice
Who better to ask for advice on where to travel in December than our specialist tour operators themselves? If you’re deciding where to go, read on to see what the experts have to say...
Ali McLean, from our partner Activities Abroad, explains why Finland is fantastic for active families: “I always plump for Finland in winter. The lakes freeze and the forests and fells are blanketed in snow turning the great outdoors into one huge adventure playground. The Finns love the arrival of winter and who can blame them? It is the variety that draws me to Finland when it comes to winter activity vacations.”
Clarita Derwent, from our Cuban partner Cuban Adventures, on her favorite way to spend the festive season: “Christmas in Cuba is fantastic because it’s the coolest time of year, but there’s a lot of festivals and parties. Combining a New Year’s Eve feast and fireworks, the Christmas Eve Las Parrandas de Remedios parade and a Christmas Day celebration is just a beautiful way to spend Christmas in the Caribbean.”
Sarah Wightman on when to see wildlife in Antarctica: “At the start of the season you get the most incredible ice formations – it’s just unbelievable. But sometimes the ship can’t get where it need to go as the ice blocks are so big – so quite often you can stand on deck and can’t get off as much. The bit in the middle – from December to early February – is the most popular because you can get off the ship, the penguin chicks and other birdlife are still there, and you get close to 24-hour sunshine.”
Mike McHugo, owner of our Moroccan High Atlas Mountains accommodation, the Kasbah du Toubkal, with some advice for packing: “Many people don’t realise that Morocco is a cold country with a hot sun, particularly out of the peak season. Even if you get good weather, once the sun goes down Morocco can be cold even in Marrakech and the south, never mind in the mountains. So people don’t pack correctly; Marrakech can have frost in winter, for example.’’
Clarita Derwent, from our Cuban partner Cuban Adventures, on her favorite way to spend the festive season: “Christmas in Cuba is fantastic because it’s the coolest time of year, but there’s a lot of festivals and parties. Combining a New Year’s Eve feast and fireworks, the Christmas Eve Las Parrandas de Remedios parade and a Christmas Day celebration is just a beautiful way to spend Christmas in the Caribbean.”
Sarah Wightman on when to see wildlife in Antarctica: “At the start of the season you get the most incredible ice formations – it’s just unbelievable. But sometimes the ship can’t get where it need to go as the ice blocks are so big – so quite often you can stand on deck and can’t get off as much. The bit in the middle – from December to early February – is the most popular because you can get off the ship, the penguin chicks and other birdlife are still there, and you get close to 24-hour sunshine.”
Mike McHugo, owner of our Moroccan High Atlas Mountains accommodation, the Kasbah du Toubkal, with some advice for packing: “Many people don’t realise that Morocco is a cold country with a hot sun, particularly out of the peak season. Even if you get good weather, once the sun goes down Morocco can be cold even in Marrakech and the south, never mind in the mountains. So people don’t pack correctly; Marrakech can have frost in winter, for example.’’
More Best places to go in December articles
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