Quick answer
January is peak season for most of India and for the short-haul places Indians fly to. In India, the best picks are Gulmarg for snow, Rajasthan for dry 22–25°C days, and Kerala for backwaters and beaches. Abroad, choose Dubai for its coolest weather and the Shopping Festival, Thailand for calm Andaman seas, or Vietnam before the Lunar New Year rush.
Best places in India in January
−8 to 3°C, snowGulmarg, Kashmir
Snow is reliable from late December to March, and the second phase of the Gulmarg Gondola climbs to about 3,980 m on Apharwat for skiers and sightseers. January is the coldest month, so pick a hotel with proper heating and book ski lessons at the base.
6–24°C, dryJaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer
Highs of 22–25°C make fort climbs and old-city walks comfortable all day. Nights on the Jaisalmer dunes drop to about 5°C, so carry a real jacket for the desert camp. The Jaipur Literature Festival usually runs in the last week of January.
11–27°C, dryRann of Kutch
The Rann Utsav tent city at Dhordo runs through January and the salt flat is at its whitest. Time your visit with the full moon for the night walk, and add Ahmedabad's kite festival around 14 January.
22–32°C, mostly dryKerala backwaters and Munnar
Dry, sunny weather suits an overnight houseboat in Alleppey and the tea estates of Munnar, where nights can fall to 6°C. Rates drop after the first week, once the Christmas and New Year crowd leaves.
20–32°C, dryGoa
After New Year, hotel rates fall sharply while the weather stays dry and the sea calm. South Goa's Palolem, Agonda and Patnem are quieter than the north and better for families.
23–30°C, dryAndaman Islands
Calm seas and good visibility make January a strong month for snorkelling and diving at Havelock and Neil. Book inter-island ferries ahead for the first half of the month, when holiday demand is highest.
10–24°C, dry, foggy morningsKaziranga, Assam
All the main ranges are open, the tall grass has been burnt back, and one-horned rhino sightings on jeep safaris are close to certain. Misty mornings usually clear by about 10 am, so the afternoon drive often has better light.
16–30°C, dryHampi
The boulder landscape is cool enough to explore by bicycle or on foot all day, which stops being true from March. Sunrise from Matanga Hill and the stone chariot at the Vittala temple are the highlights; allow two full days.
Best places abroad in January
14–24°C, dryDubai
January is Dubai's coolest month, which makes desert safaris, the old souks and Global Village comfortable at any hour. The Dubai Shopping Festival usually runs until mid-January, and hotel rates ease once it ends.
23–32°C, dryPhuket and Krabi, Thailand
January is the heart of the dry season on the Andaman coast, with calm seas for Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and the Similan Islands. Bangkok is as cool as it gets, at about 32°C by day.
14–32°C, dry in the southVietnam
The north is cool and Ha Long Bay is often misty, the centre is drying out, and the south is hot and sunny. Go in January rather than early February, when Tet closes many businesses and lifts fares.
24–30°C, short showersSingapore
Showers are frequent but short in the north-east monsoon, and Universal Studios, Sentosa and Gardens by the Bay work well with children. Lunar New Year decorations go up in Chinatown during January.
23–31°C, dry on the south-west coastSri Lanka
The south and west coasts, from Bentota to Galle and Mirissa, are in their dry season, and whale-watching boats run from Mirissa. The hill country around Kandy and Ella is cool and green.
26–30°C, dryMaldives
Peak dry season brings flat water and good visibility for snorkelling, but resort rates stay high until Easter. Resorts reached by speedboat from Malé cost less than seaplane islands.
−15 to −5°C, snowFinnish and Norwegian Lapland
Snow is guaranteed, husky and reindeer safaris run daily, and long nights give a good chance of seeing the northern lights. Daylight lasts only four to six hours, so plan activities around midday.
19–27°C (Sydney), warmAustralia
It is summer, so Sydney's beaches, Melbourne's laneways and the Great Ocean Road are at their best, and the Australian Open is played in Melbourne in the second half of the month. Fares are high around New Year and ease from mid-January.
Festivals and events in January
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
International Kite Festival (Uttarayan)
Held around Makar Sankranti on 14 January. Old-city rooftops fill with kite flyers from dawn, and pol homestays sell out early.
Tamil Nadu and across India
Pongal and Makar Sankranti
Mid-January harvest festivals. Expect a short spike in domestic fares and full trains in the south.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur Literature Festival
Usually five days in the last week of January. Jaipur hotel rates rise for the festival.
Kartavya Path, New Delhi
Republic Day Parade and Beating Retreat
Parade on 26 January and Beating Retreat on 29 January. Tickets are sold online from early January.
Dubai, UAE
Dubai Shopping Festival
Usually runs from early December to mid-January, with mall sales, drone shows and fireworks.
Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore
Thaipusam
Usually late January or early February. Devotees carry kavadis up the 272 steps at Batu Caves.
How busy is January for Indian travellers?
The first five days of January are among the most expensive of the year. New Year demand spills over, many north Indian schools stay shut for the winter break until about mid-January, and hotels in Goa, Dubai, Thailand and the hill stations price for it. From around 5 January rates fall back, and the second and third weeks are the best-value part of peak season.
Two short breaks shape the month. Makar Sankranti and Pongal fall around 14 January, and Republic Day (26 January) is a Tuesday in 2027, so taking the Monday off gives you a four-day weekend. Domestic fares on routes such as Delhi–Goa, Delhi–Srinagar and Mumbai–Jaipur rise for both. Book four to six weeks ahead for these dates, or look at our weekend getaways for places you can reach by road or an overnight train.
Where is the weather best in January?
Most of India is dry. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Hampi and the Andamans sit between roughly 20°C and 32°C in the daytime with little or no rain. Kashmir and Himachal are in deep winter, which is the point if you want snow: see the best time to visit Gulmarg for ski conditions and road access.
Abroad, January suits the Gulf, Thailand's Andaman coast, Sri Lanka's south-west coast, Vietnam and the Maldives. The southern summer opens up Australia and New Zealand, though fares from India are high.
Where should you avoid in January?
- Ladakh and Spiti: Night temperatures fall to −15°C or lower, the highways from Manali and Srinagar are closed, and most hotels shut. Go only for the Chadar trek or a specialist winter trip.
- Char Dham: The four shrines are closed for winter and reopen in late April or May.
- Early-morning connections through Delhi: Dense fog regularly delays flights and trains in the first three weeks. Leave a buffer before any international departure.
- Bali: January is one of the wettest months, with heavy afternoon rain and rough water on the south coast. A resort stay works; island-hopping does not.
- North Sikkim: Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang are often cut off by snow. Gangtok itself is fine.
What does a January trip cost?
Starting prices per person, twin sharing, excluding flights unless stated:
| Trip | Starting price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Goa, 3 nights | ₹10,000+ | Lower after 5 January |
| Kerala, 5 nights | ₹19,000+ | One houseboat night |
| Kashmir with Gulmarg, 5 nights | ₹17,000+ | Heated rooms cost more |
| Thailand, 5 nights | ₹20,000+ | Phuket or Krabi with Bangkok |
| Dubai, 4 nights with flights | ₹42,000+ | Higher during the Shopping Festival |
| Vietnam, 7 nights | ₹40,000+ | Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City |
Expect to pay 15–30% more in the first week of January. For line-by-line estimates, see Dubai trip cost and Thailand trip cost, or browse our tour packages.
Travelling with children over the winter break? Book Dubai and Thailand flights by early November. Fares for 1–10 January rarely fall later.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best place to visit in India in January?
Which country is cheapest to visit from India in January?
Is January a good time to visit Dubai?
Is Ladakh open in January?
When should I book a January holiday?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.