Things to Do in Ubon Ratchathani in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Ubon Ratchathani
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- The cool-dry season finally arrives: mornings start at 19°C (66°F) and only reach 32°C (90°F) by 2 PM, meaning you can walk the old town without that oppressive Isan humidity that makes your shirt stick to your back from March to October
- December is candle festival off-season, so the normally packed Thung Sri Muang night market has actual space to move between stalls, and the grilled chicken lady near the clock tower won't make you queue for 30 minutes
- This is when locals burn the sugarcane fields - you'll see smoke columns rising across the horizon at sunset, and the air carries that sweet burnt-caramel smell that disappears by January when they switch to mechanical harvesting
- Hotel rates drop 30-40% from peak season (November), but the weather is arguably better - clear skies for temple photography and zero afternoon storms to cancel your Mekong River boat trips
Considerations
- The Harmattan haze from Africa sometimes drifts across - when it happens, visibility drops to 2 km (1.2 miles) and the sunsets turn an eerie orange that locals call 'the dragon breathing'
- December 5th (Father's Day) is a national holiday - government offices close and some museums shut early, which can mess up temple-hopping plans if you don't check schedules
- River levels on the Mun are at their lowest, so the two-tier Pha Taem waterfall shrinks to a trickle and isn't worth the 100 km (62 mile) drive from town
Best Activities in December
Wat Phra That Nong Bua Temple Cycling Tours
December's bone-dry mornings are perfect for the 8 km (5 mile) cycle from town to this white chedi that rises 56 m (184 ft) above the rice fields. The route takes you past sugarcane being harvested by hand, and the temple's golden spire catches the low winter sun from 7 AM to 9 AM - the only time it's not backlit and harsh for photos.
Mekong River Sunset Boat Cruises
The river's at its clearest in December - no muddy runoff from rains means you can see the sandy bottom in 2 m (6.5 ft) depths. Evening cruises leave at 4:30 PM to catch the sun dropping behind the Laotian hills, and the air temperature drops to a comfortable 24°C (75°F) as you drift past fishermen casting nets from wooden boats.
Isan Farm Stay Experiences
December is rice harvest season - you can help load the golden bundles onto ox carts and watch the ancient threshing process that happens only this month. The farms around Kham Somboon district offer overnight stays in traditional wooden houses where the morning mist hangs over the paddies at 6 AM while roosters announce the day.
Thung Sri Muang Night Market Food Tours
The cool evenings mean you can linger at the plastic tables without sweating through your clothes. December brings seasonal specialties like grilled river prawns (the Mun's low water makes them easier to catch) and som tam made with green papaya harvested before the cold snap. The market stays open until midnight but the best stalls sell out by 9 PM.
Pha Taem National Park Sunrise Photography
The clear December skies create that crisp mountain air at 500 m (1,640 ft) elevation - no humidity haze means you can see 50 km (31 miles) across the Mekong to Laos. The 3000-year-old cliff paintings catch the first light at 6:15 AM, and the sandstone glows orange for exactly 20 minutes before the sun gets too high.
December Events & Festivals
Ubon Ratchathani Red Cross Fair
The annual fair takes over Thung Sri Muang from mid-December for 10 days - think county fair meets temple festival with beauty pageants, carnival games, and food stalls that only appear once a year. Local restaurants set up temporary branches serving their signature dishes at half the usual price.