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Planning An Andaman Trip in December 2026: A Complete Guide
December is the best month to visit the Andaman Islands, and the weather is the whole reason. Andaman weather in December settles into warm 28 to 30 degree days, mild 24 to 26 degree nights, and a sea that turns calm and clear. The monsoon rain is gone. What is left is a handful of light showers in the first week, then long, bright, sunny days for the rest of the month. Add roughly 8 hours of daily sunshine, water warm enough to dive in without a wetsuit, and the festive buzz of Christmas and New Year, and you have the single most popular window of the Andaman travel year. This guide gives you the exact December weather, what it costs, the things worth doing, and how to plan the trip so the peak-season crowds work for you and not against you.
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Andaman In December At A Glance
- Pack for summer, not winter. Expect warm 28-30C days and 24-26C nights, with sea temperatures around 27-29C.
- Rain drops rainfall to roughly 100 mm across about 5-6 mostly-early-month days, so plan ferries and dives with confidence.
- Fly into Port Blair (airport code IXZ), then take the 1.5 to 2.5 hour ferry to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).
- December is peak season: crowds and the year’s highest prices, especially the last week. Book flights, hotels and ferries 6-8 weeks ahead.
- Give it 5 to 6 days is the sweet spot for Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, with time for scuba, sea walking and a sunset or two.
Why December Is The Best Time To Visit Andaman
For most of the year the Andaman Sea calls the shots. The southwest monsoon soaks the islands from May to September, ferries get cancelled, and dive visibility drops. By December that is a memory. The northeast season brings dry, stable air, the swell flattens out, and underwater visibility climbs back to 15 metres and beyond. That single shift is what makes December the headline month.
There is a practical side to it too. Ferries run on schedule, so the Port Blair to Havelock to Neil hops that anchor most trips actually happen when you booked them. Water sports operators are all open. And because the festive fortnight pulls families and honeymooners in equal measure, the islands feel alive rather than sleepy. The trade-off is simple: you get the best conditions of the year, and you pay the highest prices of the year for them. The rest of this guide is about making that trade worth it.
Weather In Andaman In December: Temperature, Rain & Sea
Andaman weather in December is warm and dry. Daytime highs sit at 28 to 30C, nights stay a mild 24 to 26C, and the sea holds 27 to 29C. Rainfall is low, around 100 mm spread over just 5 to 6 mostly early-month days, with about 8 hours of sunshine daily and humidity easing to 75-80%.
Here is the month in numbers. These figures reflect Port Blair climate normals, which the northern and central islands (Havelock, Neil) track closely.
| Metric | Andaman in December | What it means for you |
| Daytime high | 28-30C | Warm and beach-friendly; rarely above 31C |
| Night-time low | 24-26C | Mild evenings, one light layer is plenty |
| Sea / water temperature | 27-29C | Warm enough to dive and snorkel without a wetsuit |
| Monthly rainfall | ~100 mm | Front-loaded to early December, then dry |
| Rainy days | ~5-6 | Mostly brief, light showers in the first week |
| Humidity | 75-80% | Easing steadily through the month |
| Sunshine | ~8 hrs/day | Among the brightest, clearest months of the year |
The takeaway is that December is one of the driest months in the Andamans, not a rainy one. If you have read older guides quoting fifteen wet days, ignore them. The real risk of a washout day is small, and it sits almost entirely in the first week, when the tail of the retreating monsoon can still throw a short morning shower before the sky clears.
November vs December vs January: which shoulder suits you
December is the crowd favourite, but the two months on either side each have their own case. Use this to pick your week.
| November | December | January | |
| Weather | Season opening, occasional late-monsoon showers | Warm days, rain fading through the month | Driest and lowest humidity of the season |
| Sea & water sports | Reopening, visibility improving | Calm seas, reliable ferries, strong visibility | Calmest seas, peak visibility |
| Crowds | Building | Peak, Christmas and New Year surge | High, eases after the first fortnight |
| Prices | Moderate | Highest, festive peak | High, dips in late January |
| Best for | Early-season value | Festive trips and water sports | Driest weather, calmer crowds |
Is December A Good Time To Visit Andaman?
Yes, and for most travellers it is the best time. December gives you dependable weather, warm water, full ferry and water-sports operations, and a festive atmosphere you will not find in the quieter months. If your priority is calm seas and diving, December delivers. If your priority is a low budget and empty beaches, it is the one drawback: this is when tariffs peak and the popular beaches on Havelock fill up, especially between Christmas and New Year.
If a tight budget matters more to you than the festive buzz, the first two weeks of December are noticeably cheaper and calmer than the last week. You still get the same dry, warm weather. For the full season-by-season picture, our Andaman in October guide covers the shoulder start of the season, and the Andaman travel guide has the month-by-month breakdown.
6 Things To Do In Andaman In December
Calm, clear water is the theme, so December is when the islands' water sports and dive sites are at their best. These six are the ones worth building the trip around.
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01
Scuba Diving
December visibility is the reason divers pick this month. Beginners can do a Discover Scuba dive off Havelock’s Beach No. 3 for around Rs 3,500, back on the sand by lunch. Certified divers head for sites like the Wall and Dixon’s Pinnacle, where 20-metre visibility is common in the dry season. Nemo Reef off North Bay is the gentle, shallow option for first-timers who want fish, not depth.
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02
Sea Walking
If you do not want to dive but still want to stand on the seabed among the fish, sea walking at North Bay is the answer. You walk the shallow reef floor in a weighted helmet with a constant air supply, no swimming needed. Expect to pay from about Rs 3,500. It suits non-swimmers, kids and nervous first-timers, and December’s clear water makes it far more rewarding than in the murkier months.
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03
Jet skiing, banana boat rides and game fishing
The flat December sea is made for surface water sports. Jet ski and banana boat rides run off North Bay and Corbyn’s Cove, usually from around Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 depending on the ride and duration. December’s calm, clear conditions also make it one of the better months for game fishing charters out of Port Blair, where the settled swell means a steadier boat and better chances offshore.
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04
Mangrove kayaking and bioluminescence
Paddle the still mangrove creeks around Havelock in the late afternoon, then stay out for the bioluminescence tour after dark, when the water lights up blue-green with every stroke. It is one of the quietest, most memorable evenings you can have on the islands, and the dry December sky gives you the clear, moonless nights that show it off best.
05
Glass-bottom boating
For families with small children or anyone who would rather stay dry, a glass-bottom boat ride at North Bay floats you straight over the coral and reef fish, from around Rs 500. December’s high visibility means you actually see the reef below rather than a green blur. It is the easy, all-ages way to meet the underwater world without getting in it.
06
Light & Sound Show At Cellular Jail
End a Port Blair evening at the Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show, where the old colonial prison’s history is told against its own walls after dark. It is the one cultural fixture that belongs on every Andaman itinerary, and the dry December evenings mean the open-air show rarely gets rained off. Book the earlier slot on busy festive nights.
Explore Popular Destinations In Andaman
Port Blair
Almost every trip starts here, and December is the month to give the capital a full day rather than a rushed morning. Beyond the Cellular Jail, take the short boat across to Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island), the old British administrative headquarters now half-reclaimed by the jungle and its resident deer. Corbyn’s Cove, the city’s own palm-lined beach, is the spot for a first swim or a jet ski ride, and it is calm and clear this time of year. Chidiya Tapu, a short drive south, delivers the best mainland-island sunset.
Havelock (Swaraj Dweep)
The star of the archipelago. Radhanagar Beach on the west coast is the wide, pale curve most people picture when they think Andaman, and because it faces due west it is where everyone gathers for the sunset. Aim to be there by 4 pm. Elephant Beach is the snorkelling and water-sports hub, and Kalapathar on the east coast is the quiet sunrise beach. Havelock is also the island to base your diving from.
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) and Baratang
Neil is the slow, low-key counterpoint to Havelock, an hour on by ferry, with Laxmanpur, Bharatpur and the Natural Bridge for an unhurried day or two. If you have a spare day and want something offbeat, Baratang, north of Port Blair, has the limestone caves and mangrove creeks that few December visitors make time for.
Christmas & New Year In Andaman
The last two weeks of December are the festive heart of the Andaman year. Beach resorts on Havelock and Neil put on Christmas dinners and New Year’s Eve parties, Port Blair’s hotels and cafes string up lights, and the islands run at full, happy capacity. If a beach New Year is the plan, this is the place, but book early: the festive fortnight is when the best rooms sell out first and prices climb highest.
There is a local event most guides miss. The Island Tourism Festival, run by the administration in Port Blair, usually lands in late December into early January, filling the exhibition ground with folk dance, island cuisine, craft stalls and cultural performances from across the Andaman and Nicobar communities. If your dates overlap it, it is the one thing on this page a weather widget can never tell you about, and it is well worth an evening. Confirm the current dates locally before you plan around it, as they shift year to year.
What To Pack For Andaman In December
December is warm, so pack for summer with one small concession to the mild evenings. The essentials that actually matter on the islands:
- Light cottons, swimwear and quick-dry clothing for warm 28-30C days.
- One light layer, a shawl or a thin jacket, for the 24-26C evenings and the breeze on early-morning ferries.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. The December sun is bright even when the air feels comfortable.
- A power bank and offline maps. Mobile signal is patchy on Havelock and Neil, and data is slow away from Port Blair.
- Cash. Ferry counters, small operators and some island cafes are cash-only, and ATMs are few outside the capital.
- Any water-sports or dive booking confirmations, plus a valid photo ID. Foreign nationals no longer need the RAP for the main islands, but carry ID everywhere.
How To Plan An Andaman Trip In December
December is peak season, so the trips that go smoothly are the ones booked early and in the right order. Here is the sequence that works.
- Pick your dates: around the festive week if you want the buzz, or the first fortnight if you want the same weather for less money and calmer beaches.
- Book flights to Port Blair (IXZ). Flights sell out and prices spike in December, so lock these first, ideally 6-8 weeks ahead.
- Reserve hotels on Havelock and Neil next, before the good rooms go. This is the item that sells out earliest over Christmas and New Year.
- Pre-book ferries for your Port Blair to Havelock to Neil hops. Ferries run reliably in December, but the popular sailings fill up in the festive weeks.
- Book water sports and the Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show in advance, so peak-season demand does not leave you waiting.
- Build the route over 5 to 6 days: two nights Port Blair, two or three on Havelock, one on Neil, with a buffer day for weather or a slow start.
- Buy travel insurance and carry cash for island counters. Small insurance, big peace of mind on a water-sports-heavy trip.
Best Time To Visit Andaman
The Andaman season runs from October to May, and December sits right in its warm, dry, calm-sea heart. October and November are the value-priced opening months as the monsoon clears, January and February are the driest and least humid, and March to May turn hot before the rains return. December’s draw is the combination: excellent weather plus the festive season. For the full month-by-month detail, see our Andaman travel guide.
Planning Your December Trip
Because December is the busiest month, a ready-made package is often the least stressful way to travel: the flights, ferries, hotels and transfers are locked in the right order, and the water sports and sightseeing are arranged before you land. A typical 5 nights, 6 days December trip covering Port Blair, Havelock and Neil is customisable to your dates, budget and pace. December is also the honeymoon peak, so couples-focused itineraries book out early. You can compare Andaman tour packages or, if you are travelling as a couple, browse Andaman honeymoon packages, all of which can start from your home city and be tailored around the festive week.
The Bottom Line On Andaman In December
December hands you the best of the Andaman year: warm 28 to 30 degree days, calm clear seas, high dive visibility and a festive island atmosphere, in exchange for peak-season prices and crowds you can sidestep by travelling in the first fortnight. Get your flights, ferries and hotels booked early, pack for warm days and one cool evening, and the islands will do the rest. When you are ready to turn the plan into a trip, our customisable Andaman packages can build a December itinerary around your dates and budget.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Andaman In December
Andaman temperature in December runs warm and steady. Daytime highs sit at 28 to 30C and night-time lows at 24 to 26C, with sea temperatures of 27 to 29C. It is one of the most comfortable months to visit: warm enough for the beach and the water all day, with mild evenings that need nothing heavier than a light layer.
Very little. December is one of the driest months in the Andamans, with roughly 100 mm of rain spread over just 5 to 6 days, almost all of it as short, light showers in the first week. After that the month is dry and bright, with around 8 hours of sunshine a day. A full washout day in December is rare.
Yes, for most travellers it is the best time. You get warm, dry weather, calm seas, high dive visibility, full ferry and water-sports operations, and the festive Christmas and New Year atmosphere. The one trade-off is cost: December is peak season, so hotels and flights are at their most expensive and the popular beaches are busiest.
Calm and clear. The southwest monsoon swell is long gone by December, so the sea flattens out, ferries run on schedule, and underwater visibility climbs to 15 metres and beyond. That makes it a prime month for scuba diving, snorkelling, sea walking and every surface water sport from jet skiing to glass-bottom boating.
The last two weeks are the busiest of the year, as families and honeymooners arrive for Christmas and New Year, and popular beaches like Radhanagar fill up. The first fortnight is noticeably quieter and cheaper with the same weather. If you want December conditions without the festive crush, travel in the first half of the month.
Yes. Beyond the Christmas and New Year celebrations at the beach resorts, Port Blair usually hosts the Island Tourism Festival in late December into early January, with folk dance, island cuisine, crafts and cultural performances from across the Andaman and Nicobar communities. Dates shift each year, so confirm them locally when you plan.
Pack for warm summer days with one small concession to the mild evenings: light cottons, swimwear and quick-dry clothing, plus one thin layer for the 24 to 26C nights and breezy morning ferries. Add reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a power bank, offline maps and cash for island counters, since signal and ATMs are limited outside Port Blair.
It is one of the best months of the year for both. The dry-season sea is calm and visibility is high, often 15 metres or more, so reefs and marine life are easy to see. Beginners can do a Discover Scuba dive off Havelock for around Rs 3,500, while certified divers get clear conditions at sites like the Wall and Dixon’s Pinnacle.
Five to six days is the sweet spot. That gives you two nights in Port Blair for the Cellular Jail, Ross Island and Corbyn’s Cove, two or three on Havelock for the beaches and diving, and a night on Neil, with a buffer day for weather or a slow start. A shorter three-to-four-day trip works if you stick to Port Blair and Havelock only.
Yes, more than in any other month. December is peak season, and flights, ferries and the best hotels sell out first over the festive fortnight. Book flights and Havelock or Neil hotels 6 to 8 weeks ahead, and pre-book ferries, water sports and the Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show so peak demand does not leave you waiting.
There is no cold month in the Andamans; the climate is tropical year-round. January is the coolest and driest, with night-time lows dipping to around 23 to 24C and the lowest humidity of the season. Even then, days stay warm at 28 to 29C, so you are packing for a warm-weather trip whichever winter month you choose.
