Myanmar Bagan Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Bagan is very-high
December is very-high for Bagan.
December is the year's most-photogenic Bagan month — clearest temple-plain visibility, cool 17-28°C temperature range, lowest humidity, hot-air balloon at peak operation. The dry-season peak with comfortable temple-climbing temperatures + air clarity at year's best.
The trade-off is pricing and crowds. Christmas-New Year tail (Dec 25-Jan 1) drives the year's highest hotel rates — Aureum Palace + Bagan Lodge + Tharabar Gate Hotel sell out 6-8 weeks ahead and run $300-500+/night. Book 6-8 weeks ahead for Christmas-New Year visits.
Travel score
Dry season peak — year's clearest visibility + sharpest temple-plain photography
December Weather at a Glance
December averages 82°F / 28°C highs and 63°F / 17°C lows with 0 rainy days and 5mm of rain. Humidity 55%. UV 8, sunshine 9 hours. Year's most-photogenic month.
December Travel Advice
Book Christmas-New Year 6-8 weeks ahead. Hot-air balloon book 4-8 weeks ahead. Mt. Popa day trip + Ayeyarwaddy River cruise 1-2 weeks ahead. December 31 - January 1 is the year's busiest 48 hours; off-peak December (Dec 5-20) is the value sweet spot with same weather.
December Pricing Trends
Year's highest pricing: boutique $100-200/night (mid-Dec) vs $150-350 (Dec 25-Jan 1). Aureum Palace + Bagan Lodge + Tharabar Gate luxury $300-500+. Hot-air balloon $300-370. Flights via Yangon $70-130.
Bagan December Weather Stats
Avg High
28°C
Avg Low
17°C
Rainy Days
0
5mm total
Sunshine
9h
Daily avg
Humidity
55%
comfortable
UV Index
8
Very high
Wind
8 km/h
Gusts 18
Sea Temp
23°C
swimming hotel pools
Crowds
Busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
22 μg/m³
PM10
40 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
29°C
Nighttime
16°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
8 km/h
Max gust 18 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Year's clearest visibility + sharpest temple-plain photography
- Year's coolest comfortable temperature 17-28°C
- Hot-air balloon at peak operation
- Bagan Viewing Tower + designated mound 360° clarity at peak
- Mt. Popa day trip ideal
Cons
- Christmas-New Year hotel surge — year's highest pricing
- Crowds at year's peak
- Pre-dawn balloon at 17°C — light jacket needed
- Sells out 6-8 weeks ahead Christmas-NY
December Events & Festivals
- Year's clearest visibility + sharpest temple-plain photography
- Christmas-New Year tail (Dec 25-Jan 1) — year's highest hotel pricing
- Hot-air balloon at peak operation
- Bagan archaeological zone tourist peak
Bagan in December — Full Picture
December is the year's most-photogenic Bagan month — clearest temple-plain visibility, cool 17-28°C temperature range, lowest humidity, hot-air balloon at peak operation. The dry-season peak with comfortable temple-climbing temperatures + air clarity at year's best.
The trade-off is pricing and crowds. Christmas-New Year tail (Dec 25-Jan 1) drives the year's highest hotel rates — Aureum Palace + Bagan Lodge + Tharabar Gate Hotel sell out 6-8 weeks ahead and run $300-500+/night. Book 6-8 weeks ahead for Christmas-New Year visits.
December signatures: hot-air balloon at year's peak operation with sharpest temple-plain panorama, Ananda + Dhammayangyi + Sulamani interiors at the year's clearest, Bagan Viewing Tower + designated mounds 360° clarity at peak, Mt. Popa day trip at the year's clearest, and the Ayeyarwaddy River sunset photography at peak. The canonical Bagan dry-season-peak experience.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Year's coolest comfortable month — days 28°C / 82°F + nights 17°C / 63°F + 55% humidity. Short sleeve + shorts (day) + long sleeves + light jacket (night + pre-dawn balloon). Year's clearest visibility + sharpest temple-plain photography.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
38°C
23.3°C
3.7/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
34°C
25°C
13/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
31.7°C
21.7°C
7.3/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current30.3°C
17°C
0/mo
Bagan Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January (Best) | 30° | 16° | 0d·5mm | 9h | 50% | 8 | Busy | Peak |
| February (Best) | 33° | 18° | 0d·5mm | 10h | 50% | 9 | Busy | Peak |
| 37° | 21° | 1d·15mm | 9.5h | 50% | 11 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 40° | 24° | 3d·30mm | 9h | 55% | 12 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 37° | 25° | 7d·90mm | 7.5h | 65% | 11 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 35° | 25° | 10d·130mm | 6.5h | 75% | 11 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 34° | 25° | 14d·160mm | 5.5h | 80% | 10 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 33° | 25° | 15d·170mm | 5.5h | 82% | 10 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 33° | 24° | 12d·130mm | 6h | 80% | 10 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 32° | 22° | 8d·80mm | 7h | 75% | 9 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| November (Best) | 30° | 19° | 2d·25mm | 8.5h | 65% | 8 | Busy | Peak |
| December (Best) | 28° | 17° | 0d·5mm | 9h | 55% | 8 | Busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Bagan December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Bagan?
Bagan in December is very-high. Tourist crowds are busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Bagan in December?
Bagan December averages a high of 28°C and a low of 17°C.
Does it rain much in Bagan in December?
Bagan December averages 5mm of rainfall over about 0 rainy days.
What should I wear in Bagan in December?
Year's coolest comfortable month — days 28°C / 82°F + nights 17°C / 63°F + 55% humidity. Short sleeve + shorts (day) + long sleeves + light jacket (night + pre-dawn balloon). Year's clearest visibility + sharpest temple-plain photography.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Bagan in December?
Bagan December sunrise is 06:30 and sunset is 17:25, with 10h 55min of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Bagan in December?
Bagan December air quality (AQI) averages 50, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 22μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Bagan in December?
In December, Bagan is great for Hot-air balloon sunrise (peak operation + clearest temple-plain panorama), Temple-zone e-bike circuit (year's clearest), Bagan Viewing Tower + designated mound sunset.
Is December peak season in Bagan?
Bagan December crowds are busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Bagan
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.