The best places to visit outside India in December on a budget are Sri Lanka, southern Vietnam (including Phu Quoc), Thailand, Malaysia and Dubai: all are dry or pleasantly cool this month, and return fares from big Indian cities start at roughly ₹14,000–17,000.
The Maldives and Mauritius cost more but need no visa paperwork before you fly, while Singapore and Bali are worth it only if you can live with afternoon rain. Below are the visa rules for Indian passports, December weather and approximate costs for each.
Places to visit outside India in December: the 9 picks at a glance
Country | Visa for Indians (Dec 2026) | December weather | Return flight from India (approx.) | Daily spend excl. flights (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sri Lanka | Free 30-day ETA, apply online first | Dry, sunny on the south and west coasts; wet in the east | ₹13,500–22,000 | ₹3,000–6,000 |
Vietnam (south, Phu Quoc) | E-visa US$25 (≈₹2,400); Phu Quoc visa-free 30 days if you fly in direct | Dry season in the south, around 30°C | ₹17,000–28,000 | ₹2,500–5,000 |
Thailand | Visa-free up to 30 days | Cool season; Andaman side drier than Gulf side | ₹17,000–32,000 | ₹3,500–6,500 |
Malaysia | Visa-free up to 30 days (scheme valid to 31 Dec 2026) | Not verified | Not found | ₹3,500–6,500 |
Dubai (UAE) | Tourist visa arranged in advance via airline, hotel or agent | Mild: about 19–27°C | ₹16,500–28,000 | ₹7,000–12,000 |
Maldives | Free 30-day visa on arrival | Dry season begins | ₹24,000–42,000 | ₹8,000–15,000 (local-island guesthouses) |
Mauritius | No visa required | Summer: hot, humid, about 30°C | Not found | ₹7,000–12,000 |
Singapore | E-visa via authorised agent, S$30 + ₹1,000 service fee | Wet: showers most afternoons | ₹19,000–33,000 | ₹7,000–12,000 |
Bali (Indonesia) | Visa on arrival IDR 500,000 (≈₹2,600) | Wet season, about 28°C | ₹22,000–38,000 | ₹3,000–6,000 |
Flight ranges are indicative December economy return fares from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad published by HappyFares; book 6–8 weeks ahead for the lower end. Daily spend covers a budget hotel or hostel, local food, local transport and one paid activity a day.
1. Sri Lanka: the cheapest foreign trip in December
Sri Lanka is the best value of the lot this month. The north-east monsoon shifts the rain to the east coast, so the south and west coasts (Galle, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Bentota) enter their peak dry season, according to Sri Lanka Tourism. Flights from Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi are short, and fares are usually the lowest on this list.
Visa: since 25 May 2026 Indians get a free 30-day, double-entry tourist ETA, but you still have to apply online before you fly. Some reports described this as a six-month scheme, so confirm it is still free on eta.gov.lk before booking.
Plan: Colombo (1 night), Galle and Unawatuna (2 nights), Mirissa for whale-watching (2 nights), then up to Kandy or Ella by train. Skip Trincomalee and Arugam Bay this month; the east coast is wet.
2. Vietnam: Phu Quoc and the south
Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc) is in its dry season from December, at around 30°C, says the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) is rainy until January or February, and Hanoi gets cool, with lows near 10°C late in the month.
Visa: an e-visa from evisa.gov.vn costs US$25 for single entry (about ₹2,400) and is valid for up to 90 days. If you fly straight into Phu Quoc from abroad, you can stay up to 30 days on the island without a visa; you need the e-visa only if you go on to the mainland.
Vietnam is also one of the cheapest places to eat out and stay in Asia, which keeps a 6–7 day trip affordable even with a flight change in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
3. Thailand: easy, but note the new 30-day limit
Thailand remains the easiest first foreign trip for Indians. The cool season runs from mid-October to mid-February, though the south can still get heavy rain into December, more on the Gulf side (Koh Samui) than the Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi), according to the Thai government.
Visa: from 15 September 2026 Thailand cut its visa-free stay for Indians from 60 days to 30 days; there is no visa on arrival for Indians. For longer stays, apply for an e-visa at thaievisa.go.th.
December hook: Tomorrowland Thailand runs from 11–13 December 2026 near Pattaya, so expect higher hotel rates in Pattaya and Bangkok that week.
4. Malaysia: visa-free until the end of 2026
Indians can visit Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days, but the exemption announced by Malaysia's Home Ministry runs only until 31 December 2026, and no extension had been announced at the time of writing. If you are flying in December and returning in January, check the rule on imi.gov.my before you book.
Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi make an easy 6-day loop, and KL is a common transit point for cheap Vietnam and Bali fares.
5. Dubai: best weather of the year
December is one of Dubai's most pleasant months: an official UAE weather bulletin for mid-December showed 27°C by day and 19°C at night. The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, with sales, fireworks and concerts.
Visa: most Indians need a tourist visa arranged before travel through the airline, a hotel or an agent; visa on arrival applies only to Indians with a valid US green card or a UK or EU residence visa. Dubai costs more per day than Southeast Asia, so a package that bundles the visa, hotel and transfers often works out cheaper. See our Simply Dubai package or the Dubai buy 1 get 1 free offer.
6. Maldives: no visa hassle, higher spend
Every nationality gets a free 30-day visa on arrival in the Maldives, provided you have a return ticket, a hotel booking (or proof of funds) and a passport valid for at least a month, according to the Maldives mission. Resorts are expensive, but guesthouses on local islands such as Maafushi and Thulusdhoo keep costs down. Alcohol is not served on local islands. December is the start of the drier season.
7. Mauritius: summer beaches
Indian passport holders do not need a visa for Mauritius (official list), though the allowed stay should be confirmed before publishing. December is summer there: about 30°C with short showers, says the UK Met Office. Cyclones are possible in summer but direct hits are uncommon. Fares are higher than Southeast Asia, so this works best as a honeymoon or a 6–7 night trip.
8. Singapore: Christmas lights, but pack an umbrella
Singapore is in the north-east monsoon in December: averages of 24–31°C with thundery showers most afternoons, according to Singapore's National Environment Agency. The upside is Christmas on A Great Street, when Orchard Road is lit up from 17 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Visa: apply for the e-visa through an authorised visa agent (S$30 plus a ₹1,000 service fee; 3–5 working days). For a ready-made plan, see our Simply Singapore package.
9. Bali: cheap on the ground, but it is the wet season
Bali is good value once you land, but December falls in Indonesia's wet season (November to March), with heavy downpours on many afternoons, per Indonesia's tourism ministry. If you go, base yourself in Ubud or the Bukit peninsula and plan outdoor activities for mornings.
Visa: visa on arrival or e-VOA costs IDR 500,000 (about ₹2,600) for 30 days, extendable once by 30 days.
How to keep a December trip abroad on budget
- Book flights now. Christmas and New Year week fares climb fast; flying out before 20 December or after 2 January is usually cheaper.
- Choose visa-free or e-visa countries. Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives and Mauritius need no paid visa for Indians right now.
- Avoid the wrong coast. In Sri Lanka go south and west; in Thailand prefer Phuket and Krabi over Koh Samui; in Vietnam stay south.
- Prefer domestic? See our guide to budget-friendly places to visit in India in November or our Goa trip budget breakdown.
FAQs
Which country is best to visit in December from India?
For a short, cheap trip, Sri Lanka's south coast is the best pick: it is in peak dry season, flights are short and the ETA is currently free. For guaranteed sunshine plus shopping, choose Dubai during the Dubai Shopping Festival (4 Dec 2026 to 17 Jan 2027).
Which countries are visa-free for Indians in December 2026?
Thailand (up to 30 days), Malaysia (up to 30 days, until 31 Dec 2026), Mauritius and the Phu Quoc island of Vietnam (30 days, direct arrival) do not need a visa. Sri Lanka's ETA is free but must be applied for online, and the Maldives gives a free visa on arrival.
Which is the cheapest foreign country to visit in December?
Sri Lanka and Vietnam usually work out cheapest once you add flights and daily costs; budget roughly ₹40,000–60,000 per person for 5–6 days including flights (approx., as of November 2026).
Is December a good time to visit Bali?
Only if you don't mind rain. December is in Bali's wet season, so expect afternoon showers; Sri Lanka's south coast, Phu Quoc or Thailand's Andaman coast are drier beach options this month.
