Inle Lake (Nyaungshwe) weather in December

December in Inle Lake: warm, dry — one of the best months to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Inle Lake🇲🇲 Myanmar · Myanmar · Trekking88
  1. 90Jan
  2. 86Feb
  3. 81Mar
  4. 68Apr
  5. 67May
  6. 64Jun
  7. 66Jul
  8. 61Aug
  9. 65Sep
  10. 74Oct
  11. 82Nov
  12. 88Dec

#2 of 12 months in Inle Lake · #168 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 88/100 (tier A)

Days
25°C
Nights
15°C
Wet days
3
Sun
9.7 h
Humidity
74%
Daylight
11 h
Inle Lake, Myanmar
Photo: Chit Moe · Pexels

Traveller notes on Inle Lake in December

Other months in Inle Lake

Inle Lake-forum threads on a March visit describe three days as a common allocation, one traveler specifically balancing five nights in Bagan against three at Inle Lake within a wider Myanmar trip. Regulars recommend an early boat start, ideally out by six-thirty and back by noon, to avoid the busier midday tourist boat traffic on the lake. Posters recommend the Inthein market, held every five days, as a genuine highlight for photography, traditional dress among local minorities cited as a real draw. Regulars call a full boat trip running roughly eight in the morning to seven at night a reasonable option for two people, pricing discussed repeatedly in local currency. Posters call March generally within the region's more reliable dry-season window, conditions here considered favorable for a full day on the water. The record: 30.1C days feeling like 33C, 18.3C nights, 3.6mm across under 1 day and 45 percent humidity.
InleLakeMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Inle Lake-forum threads on an April visit describe this as genuinely the hottest stretch of the year in Myanmar, posters calling conditions in Mandalay and Bagan considerably more punishing than the somewhat milder Shan State area around Inle. Regulars call the Thingyan water festival, typically falling in the second half of April, a real scheduling factor, businesses closing and transport booking up fast. Posters describe Inle Lake as not exempt from festival crowds and closures despite its distance from the cities. Regulars recommend checking exact Thingyan dates before booking, the disruption real regardless of location. Posters call the relatively cooler Shan hills a genuine reason to base an April itinerary around Inle and nearby Kalaw rather than lowland cities. Regulars recommend real sun protection and hydration given how intense the heat runs even here. The record: 31.3C days feeling like a punishing 33C, 20.5C nights, 54.3mm across nearly 7 days and 59 percent humidity.
InleLakeAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Inle Lake-forum threads on February conditions describe this as genuinely the driest stretch of the year regionally, posters calling real precipitation essentially a non-factor barring the occasional light shower at higher elevation in the wider Shan hills. Regulars call the daily temperature swing considerable, daytime readings running warm while early mornings and late evenings can turn genuinely cold enough for a real layer. Posters recommend packing for both extremes rather than assuming one or the other. Regulars describe boat trips on the lake as reliably pleasant, calm water and clear skies typical. Posters call February a genuinely strong window for combining Inle with nearby Bagan given how settled conditions run across the country. Regulars recommend real layers for any early-morning boat departure. The record: 26.8C days feeling like 27C, 15.1C nights, a low 57 percent humidity and 10.5 hours of sun.
InleLakeFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Inle Lake-forum threads on September temperatures describe this as still sitting within the broader monsoon window, though posters report a workable daily pattern of decent mornings with heavier activity typically building by mid-afternoon into the evening. Regulars call planning boat trips and market visits for the morning standard practice, saving anything indoor-friendly, like weaving workshops or a monastery visit, for the less predictable afternoon. Posters describe the lake and hills as genuinely lush and green, a real visual payoff for accepting the shower risk. Some call September and October the more pleasant transition months as the pattern eases, others report a still-active stretch depending on the year. A reliable poncho and a waterproof bag for camera gear are standing advice regardless of which camp proves right. The record: 27C days feeling like 28C, 20.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 267mm across over 25 days and 87 percent humidity.
InleLakeSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Inle Lake climate normals — December

Daytime high25°C / 76°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low15°C / 59°F
Feels like (high)26°C / 79°F
Rainfall15 mm / 0.6 in☀️ dry
Rainy days3 days
Humidity74%💧 humid
Dew point14°C / 57°F
Sunshine9.7 h/day
Daylight10.9 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Air quality (US AQI)51🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Inle Lake in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyShan New Year, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Inle Lake's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherInle Lake's weather peaks December–February, best around January.

December includes Shan New Year.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Inle Lake in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Festival

    Shan New Year

    15 Nov – 20 Dec · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

    Taunggyi, an hour up the hill from Nyaungshwe, celebrates the Shan New Year with a week of dances, Shan martial arts, drumming and food stalls on the first waxing day of the Shan calendar. Source ↗

  • Nature

    Winter waterbirds

    1 Dec – 15 Feb · usuallyBirdlife season

    The lake is a stopover for thousands of migrating waterbirds, and December and January are the best birding months. Early boats see the most, but the dawn ride across the water is bitterly cold. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Inle Lake — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Inle Lake?

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Inle Lake in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Inle Lake?
December in Inle Lake: warm, dry — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Inle Lake on SeasonMap's comfort score (88/100).
What is the weather like in Inle Lake in December?
In December, Inle Lake averages a daily high of 24.6°C and a low of 14.9°C, with about 15.2 mm of rain over roughly 3.3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Inle Lake in December?
Inle Lake has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 51 in December.

Within 300 km: Bagan's Balloon season around 15 Oct – 10 Apr, and Chiang Mai's Wild Himalayan cherry on the hills around 20 Dec – 31 Jan.