Best Places to Travel in December: Snow, Beaches, Festivals and More

December is the one month when India offers almost everything at once: snow in the Himalayas, warm beaches in the south, desert festivals in the west and tribal celebrations in the northeast. Add a few easy trips abroad and the choice gets harder, not easier.

This guide narrows it down. You will find the best places to travel in December, grouped by what you want from the trip, plus the practical details most lists skip: closed passes, fog delays, festival dates and entry rules for Indian passport holders.

December Travel at a Glance

If you want	Go to
Snow	Gulmarg, Manali (Solang), Auli, Shimla
Beaches	Goa, Andaman Islands, Pondicherry, Kerala
Festivals	Kohima (Hornbill), Rann of Kutch
Forts and heritage	Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Varanasi, Hampi
A honeymoon	Udaipur, Andaman Islands, Munnar, Alleppey
Family trips	Jaipur, Kerala, Goa, Ranthambore
Adventure	Auli, Rishikesh, Gulmarg, Sissu
Quiet corners	Ziro Valley, Munsiyari, Gurez
Abroad	Dubai, Thailand, Maldives, Sri Lanka

Tourist Places in India in December

Every pick below works in December, but conditions differ sharply between regions.

Snow and High Mountains

Place	Why go	Heads-up
Gulmarg, J&K	Skiing and the Gulmarg Gondola above snowy meadows	Fly to Srinagar; snow season runs December to March
Manali, Himachal	Skiing and paragliding at Solang Valley, cafés in Old Manali	Rohtang Pass is normally shut for winter; use Solang or Gulaba instead
Shimla and Kufri	Christmas lights, Mall Road, ice-skating, the toy train	Snowfall is possible, not guaranteed
Auli, Uttarakhand	India’s ski hub, with a ropeway and Nanda Devi views	Nearest airport is Dehradun, about 270 km away
Leh–Ladakh	Frozen lakes, quiet monasteries, stark scenery	Extreme cold and limited flights; the Chadar Trek runs mid-January to February, not December
Tawang, Arunachal	Tawang Monastery and a snowy Sela Pass	Remote; a long mountain drive from Tezpur or Guwahati
Gangtok, Sikkim	Rumtek Monastery, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La on select days	Snow varies from year to year

Misty Hills and Tea Country

Place	Why go
Darjeeling	Kanchenjunga views, the toy train, tea estates
Munnar	Tea gardens and Eravikulam National Park
Coorg	Coffee plantations, Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp
Ooty	Nilgiri Mountain Railway, botanical gardens, Doddabetta Peak
Wayanad	Spice gardens, Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak trek
Shillong	Umiam Lake, plus Cherrapunji and Dawki nearby
Ranikhet	Quiet Kumaon views and Chaubatia Gardens
Mount Abu	Rajasthan’s only hill station, with the Dilwara Temples

Beaches, Backwaters and Islands

Place	Why go	Heads-up
Goa	Warm days, Christmas and New Year parties, music festivals	Book early for the week between Christmas and New Year
Andaman Islands	Scuba, snorkelling, Radhanagar Beach	Plan inter-island ferries in advance
Kerala backwaters	Alleppey houseboats and Ayurveda	Pleasantly warm, not hot
Pondicherry	French Quarter, Auroville, seaside cafés	About 150 km from Chennai airport

Culture, Festivals and Wildlife

Place	December highlight
Kohima, Nagaland	Hornbill Festival, 1–10 December at Kisama; an Inner Line Permit is required
Rann of Kutch	Rann Utsav tent city runs until 7 March 2027; full-moon nights fall around 21–24 December
Jaipur	Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal and bazaars; the Literature Festival follows in January
Udaipur	Lake Pichola boat rides, City Palace, Jag Mandir
Jaisalmer	The golden fort and camel safaris at Sam Sand Dunes
Varanasi	Dawn boat rides and Ganga Aarti in misty air
Khajuraho	UNESCO temples and an evening sound-and-light show
Hampi	Vittala and Virupaksha temples, sunrise from Matanga Hill
Rishikesh	Yoga, Ganga Aarti and white-water rafting
Ranthambore	Open-jeep tiger safaris in cool, dry weather

Offbeat December Escapes

Place	Why go
Ziro Valley, Arunachal	Apatani tribal culture, clear skies, quiet fields
Gurez Valley, J&K	Remote wooden villages; cut off for much of winter, so check road access
Chatpal, Kashmir	Snowy village about 90 km from Srinagar
Sissu, Himachal	Quiet Lahaul village just past the Atal Tunnel
Munsiyari, Uttarakhand	Glacier views and treks
Lava, West Bengal	Kanchenjunga views and peaceful trails
Katao, Sikkim	Snow views without Gangtok’s crowds
Sar Pass, Himachal	Meadow and village treks; winter trekking needs a guide
Aizawl, Mizoram	Hill views, Bara Bazar and Mizo culture

Places to Visit in December from India

These trips are short flights from major Indian cities. Entry rules for Indian passport holders change often, so confirm on the official embassy or government site before booking.

Destination	Why December	Entry note
Dubai	Mild weather and the Dubai Shopping Festival, 4 December to 17 January	Check UAE visa rules for your situation
Thailand	Cool, dry season for Bangkok and the beaches	Visa-exempt up to 30 days since 15 September 2026; digital arrival card needed
Maldives	Dry-season beaches and diving	Free visa on arrival, up to 30 days
Sri Lanka	South and west coast beaches, tea hills	Online ETA required; check the current fee
Malaysia	Langkawi and Penang on the drier west coast	Visa-free for 30 days, reported to run until 31 December 2026
Bhutan and Nepal	Crisp, clear Himalayan views	No visa for Indians; Bhutan charges a daily Sustainable Development Fee

How to Plan a December Trip

1. Plan around dates. Early December is usually calmer. Hornbill and the Dubai Shopping Festival both start in the first week, while Christmas to New Year is the busiest stretch almost everywhere.
2. Keep snow plans flexible. Snowfall timing changes every year. Check forecasts close to departure and keep a non-snow backup.
3. Add a fog buffer. The aviation regulator declared 10 December to 10 February the fog window last winter. Delhi flights and north Indian trains often run late, so avoid tight connections.
4. Check permits and roads. Nagaland needs an Inner Line Permit, and snow can shut mountain roads at short notice.
5. Book early. Festival tents, island ferries and Goa stays fill up around the holidays.
6. Pack for two seasons. Ladakh can fall below −20°C while Goa stays warm, so pack for your exact destination.

Conclusion

The best place to travel in December depends on what you want: snow in Gulmarg, a festival in Kohima, a houseboat in Alleppey or a mall-hopping break in Dubai. Pick the experience first, then fit it to the date.

Your next step: choose one destination from the tables above, check its dates, permits and entry rules, and book before the holiday rush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which place is best for snow in December?

Gulmarg and Auli are India’s best-known ski spots, and Solang near Manali is the easiest to reach. Snow timing varies, so stay flexible.

Where can I go in December if I dislike the cold?

Try Goa, Kerala, the Andaman Islands or Pondicherry. All stay warm, and the weather is comfortable for sightseeing.

Is December a good month for Rajasthan?

Yes. Jaipur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer are comfortable for forts and palaces, though desert nights get cold.

Can I visit Ladakh in December?

Yes, but expect extreme cold, limited flights and closed roads. It suits experienced winter travellers. The frozen-river Chadar Trek happens later, from mid-January.

What is an easy December trip abroad for Indians?

Thailand, Dubai, the Maldives and Sri Lanka are short flights with simple entry steps. Check current rules first.