Why December Is the Best Time to Visit Andaman
Andaman in December has warm 28–30°C days, cool 24–26°C nights and a sea that turns calm and clear as the last monsoon showers fade in the first week, which is exactly why it is the peak month to visit the islands. Rainfall drops sharply through the month, humidity eases, and visibility for scuba diving and snorkelling is at its best of the year. Add the Christmas and New Year buzz on Havelock and Port Blair beaches, and December becomes the single most popular time to plan an Andaman trip. The trade-off is crowds and peak-season prices, so the islands reward travellers who book flights, ferries and water-sports slots well in advance. Here is the full December weather breakdown, the best things to do, and the practical tips to plan around.
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Weather In Andaman In December: Temperature, Rain & Sea
The weather in Andaman in December is warm and dry-trending, with daytime highs of 28–30°C and night-time lows of 24–26°C. Early December still sees brief, light showers as the retreating monsoon clears, but rain falls away sharply through the month, leaving calm seas, low humidity and bright, sunny days by mid-December.
| Metric | Andaman in December | Notes |
| Daytime high | 28–30 °C | Warm, beach-friendly; rarely above 31 °C |
| Night-time low | 24–26 °C | Mild evenings — a light layer is enough |
| Sea / water temperature | 27–29 °C | Warm for diving, snorkelling & swimming |
| Monthly rainfall | ~120–130 mm | Front-loaded to early Dec; drops sharply mid-month |
| Rainy days | ~15–16 | Mostly brief, light early-month showers |
| Humidity | 70–75 % | Easing through the month |
| Sunshine | ~8–9 hrs/day | Among the brightest months of the year |
Source: December climate normals for Port Blair (representative of the central islands), reconciled from WeatherSpark, weather-and-climate.com and Wanderlog station data.
What matters is the shape of the month, not just the monthly total. December inherits a little rain from November, so the first week or two can bring short, passing showers, but the wet-day chance falls steadily from around a third of days early on to under one in ten by month-end. The on-paper rainfall figure looks moderate, yet most December travellers get warm, mostly dry days with the occasional brief shower that clears quickly. By Christmas, the islands are reliably sunny.
Is December A Good Time To Visit Andaman?
Yes, December is widely considered the best time to visit Andaman. It sits in the heart of the November-to-mid-May peak season, with warm days, calm post-monsoon seas, strong underwater visibility and minimal rain after the first week. Ferries run reliably, all the major water sports are open, and the islands are at their most photogenic. The only real downsides are higher prices and bigger crowds, both peaking around Christmas and New Year.
How December compares to the months on either side:
| November | December | January | |
| Weather | Season opening; occasional late-monsoon showers | Warm days; rain falls away through the month | Driest, 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 & 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 & water sports | Driest weather, calmer crowds |
If your priority is the festive atmosphere and the warmest sea, December wins. If you want the same great weather with slightly fewer crowds, aim for the second half of January. Either way, you are travelling in the best window the islands offer for the wider picture, see our guide to the best time to visit Andaman, and to winter in Andaman, of which December is the standout month.
6 Things To Do In Andaman In December
December's calm seas and clear water make it the ideal month for the islands' marquee experiences. Here are six things to do that are at their best this month.
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Scuba Diving
December offers some of the year’s best underwater visibility, often 15–25 metres, making it prime time for scuba diving. Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is the hub, with healthy coral gardens and abundant marine life at sites like Nemo Reef and The Wall. First-timers can do a beginner Discover Scuba Dive with no certification, while certified divers can book deeper fun dives and even night dives. The warm 27–29°C water means you are comfortable without a thick wetsuit.
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Sea Walking
Sea walking lets non-swimmers stroll along the seabed at depths of up to seven metres wearing a glass helmet fed with a continuous air supply. It is one of the most accessible underwater experiences in the islands and runs at North Bay Beach (near Port Blair) and Elephant Beach (Havelock). December’s settled water keeps visibility high, so you see reef fish and coral up close with no diving skill required.
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Mangrove Kayaking
Andaman holds roughly a fifth of India’s mangrove cover, and kayaking through these quiet tidal forests is a calm counterpoint to the open-water activities. December’s mild weather and lower humidity make the paddle comfortable, and bioluminescence kayaking tours run on clear, moonless nights when the water glows as you move through it.
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Light & Sound Show At Cellular Jail
The evening Light and Sound Show at the Cellular Jail in Port Blair narrates the stories of India’s freedom fighters who were imprisoned here. The dry December evenings are well suited to this open-air show, and it is one of the few activities unaffected by sea conditions – a good plan for your arrival or departure day in Port Blair.
Glass Bottom Boating
For families and anyone who would rather stay dry, glass-bottom boats reveal the coral and fish through a transparent hull. Dolphin Beach near Havelock and North Bay are popular departure points. The calm December sea means a smoother, clearer ride than in the shoulder months.
Beach-Hopping On Havelock & Neil
December is the month to work through the islands’ headline beaches. On Havelock, Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) is regularly rated among Asia’s best, while Elephant Beach is the water-sports hub and Kalapathar Beach offers a quieter sunrise. Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) adds laid-back Bharatpur and Laxmanpur beaches. Reach them via the fast private ferries operated by Makruzz and Nautika, plus government ferries, from Port Blair – check live schedules and book ahead, as December sailings fill fast.
Christmas & New Year In Andaman
December also brings the islands’ liveliest stretch of the year. Beach shacks and resorts on Havelock and Port Blair host Christmas dinners and New Year’s Eve beach parties, and the festive crowd gives the normally quiet islands a holiday buzz. Expect demand to spike from roughly 23 December to 2 January, so accommodation, ferries and event tickets should be locked in weeks ahead.
If a year-end celebration is the main reason for your trip, plan it around the dedicated festivities in our guide to New Year in Andaman, which covers the parties, venues and booking timelines in detail.
What To Pack For Andaman In December
December weather is warm by day and mild at night, with a small chance of an early-month shower – so packing is light and simple:
- Light cottons and quick-dry clothes for warm 28–30°C days.
- A light layer or shrug for cool 24–26°C evenings, ferry rides and air-conditioning.
- Swimwear, a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen for daily water activities.
- A compact rain jacket or umbrella for brief early-December showers.
- Sunglasses, a hat and water shoes for beaches and rocky entries.
- A waterproof phone pouch and a power bank – boats, beaches and patchy island charging.
How To Plan An Andaman Trip In December
December is the busiest month on the islands, so a little advance planning goes a long way. Here is a simple six-step plan.
- Book flights and ferries early. Festive-peak demand pushes up airfares to Port Blair and fills inter-island ferries — secure both as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Map a Port Blair–Havelock–Neil route. A classic 5–7 day December trip splits between Port Blair (history, North Bay), Havelock (beaches, diving) and Neil (relaxed beaches).
- Pre-book the private ferries. Reserve Makruzz or Nautika sailings for your specific dates; check live schedules, as December services book out fastest.
- Reserve scuba and water-sports slots. December visibility is the year’s best, so popular dive and sea-walk operators fill early – book ahead rather than walking up.
- Pack for warm days and brief showers. Light cottons, swimwear and a compact rain layer cover the warm-and-mostly-dry December pattern.
- Plan around the Christmas-New Year surge. If you are travelling 23 Dec–2 Jan, lock accommodation and event tickets weeks ahead and expect peak prices.
Prefer a ready-made plan? Browse customisable Andaman tour packages that bundle flights, ferries, stays and activities for December dates.
Best Time To Visit Andaman
The best time to visit Andaman is November to mid-May, the dry peak season when the seas are calm and every water activity is open. Within that window, December and January are the standouts — December for its festive energy and warmest sea, January for the driest, clearest weather. The monsoon (roughly June to September) brings heavy rain and rough seas, with many boat services suspended, so it is best avoided for a beach-and-water-sports trip.
December also makes a natural base for exploring the capital, see what is on in Port Blair in December for city-level detail.
Planning Your December Trip
December is the high point of the Andaman calendar: warm days, calm clear seas, the year’s best diving visibility and a festive holiday buzz, with only crowds and peak prices to plan around. Book early, build a Port Blair–Havelock–Neil route, and you have the islands at their best.
When you are ready to plan the details, browse customisable Andaman tour packages and shape your own December itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Andaman In December
Andaman in December has daytime highs of around 28–30°C and night-time lows of 24–26°C. The sea stays warm at 27–29°C. There is no true cold season on the islands - December simply brings the most comfortable mix of warm days and mild evenings, with humidity easing to around 70–75%.
Yes, but mostly early in the month. December carries a little rain over from the retreating monsoon - short, light showers in the first week or two - totalling around 120–130 mm across roughly 15–16 days of mostly brief precipitation. Rain falls away sharply through December, so by mid-month the islands are reliably warm, sunny and dry.
December is one of the best times to visit Andaman. It is peak season, with warm 28–30°C days, calm seas, excellent underwater visibility and minimal rain after the first week. Every major water sport is open and ferries run reliably. The trade-offs are higher prices and bigger crowds, especially around Christmas and New Year.
The sea in December is calm and clear. With the monsoon over, water turns settled and visibility climbs to roughly 15–25 metres at popular dive sites - among the best of the year. Inter-island ferries run on schedule and conditions are well suited to scuba diving, snorkelling, sea walking and glass-bottom boating.
Yes. December is the busiest month of the year on the islands, and demand peaks sharply from about 23 December to 2 January for Christmas and New Year. Flights, ferries, hotels and water-sports slots fill well in advance, so booking early is essential if you are travelling during the festive fortnight.
Pack light cottons and quick-dry clothes for warm days, swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen for daily water activities, and a light layer for cool 24–26°C evenings, ferry rides and air-conditioning. Add a compact rain jacket or umbrella for brief early-month showers, plus sunglasses, a hat and a waterproof phone pouch.
Andaman has no genuinely cold month - its tropical climate keeps temperatures warm year-round. December and January are the coolest, with night-time lows of around 23–26°C and the lowest humidity of the year. Even on the coolest nights, a light layer is all you need.
Yes - December offers some of the year's best conditions for scuba diving and snorkelling. Calm post-monsoon seas deliver high visibility (often 15–25 metres) and the water is a warm 27–29°C. Havelock Island is the main hub, with options for first-time Discover Scuba dives, certified fun dives and easy snorkelling for non-swimmers.
Five to seven days is ideal for an Andaman trip in December. That allows roughly a day or two in Port Blair, two to three days on Havelock for beaches and diving, and a day or two on Neil Island, with buffer time for inter-island ferries. Shorter three-to-four-day trips work if you focus on Port Blair and Havelock only.
Yes, booking ahead is strongly recommended. December is peak season and the Christmas–New Year stretch sells out fastest. Secure flights to Port Blair, private ferries (Makruzz or Nautika), accommodation and popular water-sports slots weeks in advance to avoid higher prices and limited availability.
Yes, Andaman is safe to visit in December. The seas are calm, water activities run under licensed operators, and the islands are well set up for tourists during peak season. As always, follow operator safety briefings for water sports and check live ferry schedules, which can shift with sea conditions.
