--- title: "Winter sun in Asia, the 10 warmest places | Wimup" description: "Ten places from Thailand to Dubai ranked by their December to February daytime high, from Krabi and Langkawi to the Gulf." url: https://wimup.com/winter-sun-asia type: Themed list updated: 2026-10-27 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Winter sun in Asia, ten places where the dry season is the reason to go. By Wimup desk · 10 picks · 4 films · ≈ 3 min read Ten places in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Gulf ranked by how warm their winter days are. The top four average 32°C or more from December to February. We ranked each place by its average daytime high from December to February in its weather service's monthly averages, warmest first, with ties going to the drier place. Rain over the same three months sits beside it, because the dry season is drier in some places than others. ## Winter sun in Asia, ten places where the dry season is the reason to go. ### 1. Krabi, Thailand Andaman coast · Thailand The warmest pick, at 33°C by day, with 143 mm of rain all winter. Take a longtail to Railay, which no road reaches, and use Ao Nang as the base for day trips to the Phi Phi islands. - **Winter high:** 33°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 143 mm - **Fly into:** Krabi (KBV) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/krabi.md) ### 2. Langkawi, Malaysia Kedah · Malaysia An island off Malaysia's northwest coast and a UNESCO Global Geopark, at 32°C by day and driest in February. Swim at Pantai Cenang, then ride the SkyCab cable car up Gunung Mat Cincang. - **Winter high:** 32°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 115 mm - **Fly into:** Langkawi (LGK) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/langkawi.md) ### 3. Penang, Malaysia Strait of Malacca · Malaysia At 283 mm, most of it in December, Penang is the second-wettest pick, so January and February are the months to come. George Town is a UNESCO site, and its hawker stalls are the reason most people stay. - **Winter high:** 32°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 283 mm - **Fly into:** Penang (PEN) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/penang.md) · [Watch the Penang film](https://wimup.com/watch/penang.md) ### 4. Goa, India Konkan coast · India The driest pick by far: about 17 mm of rain all winter at 32°C. Choose quiet Palolem in the south or busier Anjuna in the north, and give a morning to the churches of Old Goa, a UNESCO site. - **Winter high:** 32°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 17 mm - **Fly into:** Goa (GOI, GOX) Links: [India guide](https://wimup.com/country/india.md) ### 5. Phu Quoc, Vietnam Gulf of Thailand · Vietnam Vietnam's largest island sits in the Gulf of Thailand, so it is dry in winter while the centre coast is wet. Days hold at 31°C; Sao Beach, on the southeast coast, has the softest sand. - **Winter high:** 31°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 125 mm - **Fly into:** Phu Quoc (PQC) Links: [Vietnam guide](https://wimup.com/country/vietnam.md) ### 6. Puerto Princesa, Philippines Palawan · Philippines The gateway to Palawan, at 31°C, with most of its 261 mm of winter rain in December and February the driest month. Book the Underground River, a UNESCO site, ahead, and island-hop Honda Bay. - **Winter high:** 31°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 261 mm - **Fly into:** Puerto Princesa (PPS) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/puerto-princesa.md) ### 7. Siem Reap, Cambodia Angkor · Cambodia Not a beach but the best season for Angkor: 31°C days and about 42 mm of rain over the winter. Buy a multi-day temple pass, see Angkor Wat at sunrise, and save Ta Prohm for the quieter late afternoon. - **Winter high:** 31°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 42 mm - **Fly into:** Siem Reap (SAI) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/siem-reap.md) · [Watch the Siem Reap film](https://wimup.com/watch/siem-reap.md) ### 8. Galle, Sri Lanka Southern Province · Sri Lanka The southwest coast's dry season, at 30°C, though December still brings most of the winter rain. Walk the ramparts of Galle Fort, a UNESCO site, at sunset, and swim at Unawatuna, a short ride east. - **Winter high:** 30°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 290 mm - **Fly into:** Colombo (CMB) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/galle.md) ### 9. Muscat, Oman Gulf of Oman · Oman The Gulf's winter is mild, not tropical: 26°C by day and 31 mm of rain. See the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the morning, walk the Mutrah Corniche at dusk, and take a boat to snorkel the Daymaniyat Islands. - **Winter high:** 26°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 31 mm - **Fly into:** Muscat (MCT) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/muscat.md) · [Watch the Muscat film](https://wimup.com/watch/muscat.md) ### 10. Dubai, UAE Persian Gulf · UAE The coolest pick, at 26°C by day, and winter is the one season the city is pleasant outdoors. Swim at Kite Beach, spend an evening in the desert, and time a December visit for the Dubai Shopping Festival. - **Winter high:** 26°C - **Dec–Feb rain:** 46 mm - **Fly into:** Dubai (DXB) Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/dubai.md) · [Watch the Dubai film](https://wimup.com/watch/dubai.md) ## FAQs ### How is this list ranked? By the average daytime high from December to February in each place's published monthly averages, warmest first, with ties going to the drier place. The figures are rounded to the degree here, and the order follows the unrounded values. ### Why are Bali, Ko Samui and Hoi An not on it? December to February is their wet season or the tail of it. Bali takes its heaviest rain then, and Ko Samui and the Vietnamese centre coast are still coming out of their monsoon in December. ### Which pick is driest in winter? Goa, with about 17 mm of rain from December to February, then Muscat at about 31 mm and Siem Reap at about 42 mm. Galle and Penang are the wettest, with most of their rain in December. ### Is the Gulf warm enough for the beach in winter? For most people, yes. Muscat and Dubai average about 26°C by day from December to February and the sea stays swimmable, but evenings are cool, so pack a layer. ### When is the best month for the tropical picks? February, for most of them. It is the driest month in Langkawi, Penang and Puerto Princesa, and December is still the tail of the rains in Galle and Penang. ## Sources - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.