Ranthambore in December
December is cold, clear and the most in-demand month of the year after January. Foggy mornings, steaming lakes and tigers warming up on open rocks make for superb safaris, but Christmas and New Year week put heavy pressure on permits and hotels. If you want December, start early and stay flexible on dates.
Please provide authentic details as per government ID for safari permits.
We are a private tour operator, not the Forest Department, and permits are allocated by the Rajasthan Forest Department. We usually reply within 2 hours (6am to 6pm) and confirm the price before you pay anything.
No payment now. We check permit availability and confirm the price with you first.
Roughly 7 to 25°C. Mornings are genuinely cold, with fog on the lakes in the first light, and an open jeep adds wind chill. Afternoons are mild and sunny. Carry a warm jacket, cap, gloves and scarf for the morning safari and layers you can take off by mid-morning.
The forest has thinned and tigers come out into the sun on rocks and tracks after the cold nights, which is when many of the best sightings happen. Lakes are busy with migratory birds. Sambar, chital, crocodile basking on the banks and the occasional leopard or sloth bear fill out a good trip.
The morning safari runs 7.00 AM to 10.30 AM and the evening safari 2.00 PM to 5.30 PM, the same as November and January. The evening drive is much warmer, which suits young children and older visitors; the morning has the better light and the colder start.
Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, so 25 to 27 December is a long weekend, and 31 December is a Thursday running into New Year on Friday 1 January. These are among the first dates to sell out in any year, and the October to December permit block was released on 1 August. Send your preferred and fallback dates and we will tell you what is still open.
If your first-choice date is gone, early December weekdays are the easiest dates of the month and the cold is the same. Hotels near the park also fill for the holiday weeks, so settle permits and rooms together. We do not charge to check availability or send a request.
A warm jacket, woollen cap, gloves and scarf, muted clothes in khaki, olive or grey, sunglasses for the low sun, and a small blanket on a canter. Keep camera batteries in an inside pocket because the cold drains them fast.
| Dates | Morning safari | Evening safari |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November – 31 January | 7.00 AM – 10.30 AM | 2.00 PM – 5.30 PM |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Park status | All zones open |
| Temperature | About 7 to 25°C, cold mornings |
| Crowds | Very high 25 to 27 December and around 31 December |
| Sighting odds | Good; tigers bask in the sun after cold nights |
| Best for | Winter light, photography, family holidays |
| Booking type | Indian national | Foreign national |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Jeep seat (6-seater) | Approx. ₹2,200 – ₹2,500 | Approx. ₹4,500 – ₹5,000 |
| Shared Canter seat (20-seater) | Approx. ₹1,500 – ₹1,600 | Approx. ₹3,800 – ₹4,200 |
| Private Jeep (all 6 seats) | From approx. ₹32,000 | Higher, varies by slot |
Yes. It is one of the most atmospheric months, with good sightings, but it is cold in the mornings and very busy around Christmas and New Year.
About 7 to 25°C. Dawn is cold and foggy, and the open vehicle adds wind chill, so dress warmly for the morning safari.
Morning 7.00 AM to 10.30 AM and evening 2.00 PM to 5.30 PM.
Permits for October to December were released on 1 August and the holiday dates go first. Send preferred and fallback dates and we will check what is still available.
The morning has the best light and tiger activity but is cold; the evening is warmer. If you have two drives, take one of each.
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