The hottest places in January are in South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean, where average highs run from about 28°C to 33°C. For heat with dry weather, Langkawi, Phuket, Bangkok, southern Vietnam and Colombo all average above 30°C with five or fewer rain days. Bali is as hot as anywhere, at 33.0°C, but January is its wettest month. Closer to home, the Canary Islands and Agadir average about 21°C and Dubai 24°C — warm rather than hot, because January is their coolest month of the year.
Where is hot in January? The ranked list
Eighteen places we fly to in January, ranked by average daytime high. Temperatures and rain are official long-term averages; prices are our lead-in for January 2027, per person, based on two sharing, with return flights from the UK. Time differences are against UK time in January.
| Place | Average high | Rain days | Rainfall | Time vs UK | January 2027 from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langkawi, Malaysia | 33.0°C | 2 | 19.2mm | +8 hours | £1,299pp |
| Bali (Denpasar) | 33.0°C | 27 | 345mm | +8 hours | £949pp |
| Phuket, Thailand | 32.4°C | 4.2 | 23.3mm | +7 hours | £999pp |
| Zanzibar | 32.1°C | 7 | — | +3 hours | £1,499pp |
| Bangkok, Thailand | 32.0°C | 1 | 9mm | +7 hours | £999pp |
| Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) | 32.0°C | 2 | 12mm | +7 hours | £1,149pp |
| Sri Lanka (Colombo) | 30.9°C | 5 | 58.2mm | +5½ hours | £1,299pp |
| Maldives (Malé) | 30.3°C | 6 | 114.2mm | +5 hours | £1,629pp |
| Seychelles (Victoria) | 30.0°C | 20 | 403.7mm | +4 hours | £2,049pp |
| Mauritius (Plaisance) | 29.8°C | 16 | 237.0mm | +4 hours | £1,199pp |
| Barbados | 29.1°C | 11 | 68.1mm | −4 hours | £1,729pp |
| Antigua (St John’s) | 28.2°C | 10 | 56.9mm | −4 hours | £2,049pp |
| Jamaica (Montego Bay) | 27.9°C | 9 | 85mm | −5 hours | £1,749pp |
| Dubai | 24.0°C | 1.8 | 11.3mm | +4 hours | £579pp |
| Agadir, Morocco | 21.1°C | 4 | 31.6mm | Same as UK | £519pp |
| Tenerife (Santa Cruz) | 21.0°C | 8 | 31.5mm | Same as UK | £379pp |
| Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) | 20.8°C | 5.6 | 25.1mm | Same as UK | £409pp |
| Lanzarote (Arrecife) | 20.7°C | 5.9 | 16.5mm | Same as UK | £219pp |
Prices are each holiday’s lead-in for January 2027; where a holiday is sold at more than one length, the price for your chosen number of nights is confirmed when you enquire. Bangkok and Phuket share one two-centre holiday, and Agadir is priced as part of a Marrakech and Agadir trip.
Where is hot and dry in January?
Five of the eighteen places average above 30°C with five or fewer rain days in January: Langkawi, Phuket, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo. That is the combination most people mean by winter sun — reliable heat, and showers that are the exception rather than the pattern.
Bangkok is the driest of the eighteen on both measures, with one rain day and 9mm of rain in the month, and Dubai is second on both. Langkawi and Ho Chi Minh City each average two rain days. For a beach, Phuket and Langkawi are the pick of the five; Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo are cities, and Thailand’s Bangkok and Phuket holiday puts a city and a beach in one trip.
The Maldives only just misses: 30.3°C with six rain days, and its January rainfall is about half December’s. By February it is drier still.
Where is warm in January?
If hot means 30°C and above, warm is the band below it — pleasant for walking, sightseeing and the beach without the midday heat. Three groups fit:
- The Caribbean, 28–29°C. Barbados averages 29.1°C, Antigua 28.2°C and Jamaica 27.9°C, each with 9 to 11 rain days. January is outside the hurricane season, which normally runs from June to November.
- Dubai, 24°C. January is Dubai’s coolest month, at an average high of 24.0°C and a low of 13.7°C, with fewer than two rain days. Warm enough for the beach by day; you will want a layer in the evening.
- The Canaries and Agadir, about 21°C. Short-haul and on UK time. January is the coolest month of the year in all four.
Where is hot in January, but in the rainy season?
Heat and rain are not opposites in the tropics. Four places we fly to are as hot as anywhere in January but sit in their wet season:
- Bali shares the top temperature, 33.0°C, and January is its wettest month on both measures: 27 rain days and 345mm. A beach week here in January carries a real chance of rain on most days.
- The Seychelles has the most rainfall of the eighteen, 403.7mm, and January is Victoria’s wettest month of the year by that measure (its most rain days fall in December).
- Mauritius has 16 rain days and 237mm at Plaisance; January is also its hottest month, at 29.8°C.
- Kuala Lumpur averages 32.1°C but 11 rain days, while Langkawi, on the same twin-centre holiday, has two.
None of that rules them out. It changes the trip: more time for spas, food and day trips, less certainty about a full beach day.
Where is hot in January close to the UK?
Of the places we fly to, the warmest short-haul options in January are the Canary Islands and Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Agadir averages 21.1°C with four rain days; Tenerife 21.0°C, Gran Canaria 20.8°C and Lanzarote 20.7°C. The Canaries and Morocco are both on UK time in January, so there is no jet lag at all.
Between the three islands, the measures disagree. Lanzarote has the least rainfall, 16.5mm, but Gran Canaria the fewest rain days, 5.6. Tenerife is the wettest of the three on both. Marrakech, inland, averages 19.1°C by day but drops to 5.9°C at night — a city for sightseeing in January, not sunbathing.
Which cities are warm in January?
For a city break with real warmth, look east. Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City both average 32.0°C with one and two rain days. Colombo averages 30.9°C, and Kuala Lumpur 32.1°C but with 11 rain days. Dubai averages 24.0°C and is four hours ahead of the UK. Marrakech is mild by day, at 19.1°C.
Mainland Europe is a different season: Rome averages 11.9°C in January and Venice 6.6°C. If a European city is the point, go for the city, not for the sun.
What is the cheapest hot holiday in January?
It depends how hot you need it:
- Cheapest overall: five nights on Lanzarote from £219 per person in January 2027, at about 21°C.
- Cheapest long-haul: Dubai, from £579 per person for a city break at 24°C.
- Cheapest at 30°C and above: Bali, from £949 per person — but in its wettest month.
- Cheapest hot and dry: Thailand, from £999 per person for seven nights in Bangkok and Phuket in January 2027.
Is January cheaper than December for winter sun?
On most holidays, yes. Of the eighteen holidays compared, fifteen cost less in January 2027 than in December 2026, often for weather that is just as good. Thailand drops from £1,199 to £999 per person, Barbados from £1,949 to £1,729 and Dubai from £649 to £579. Three run the other way: Antigua and St Lucia cost £50 more in January, and the Marrakech and Agadir trip is £519 in January against £499 for departures from 1 to 15 December. Our Where Is Hot in December guide sets out the month before.
January destination by destination
Thailand: Bangkok and Phuket
Bangkok averages 32.0°C with one rain day in January, and Phuket 32.4°C with 4.2 rain days and 23.3mm. Our Bangkok and Phuket holiday is from £999 per person for seven nights in January 2027, £1,149 for ten and £1,249 for twelve. The Thailand guide covers every month.
Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur
Langkawi shares the highest average temperature of the eighteen, 33.0°C, with only two rain days and 19.2mm in January. Kuala Lumpur is as hot but wetter. Our Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi twin centre, six or eight nights, is from £1,299 per person in January 2027.
Southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City averages 32.0°C with two rain days. The rest of the country is cooler in January: Hanoi averages 20.0°C, and Da Nang, the base for Hoi An, 25.2°C with 14 rain days. Vietnam Discovery, nine nights from Hanoi to Saigon, is from £1,149 per person in January 2027; the Vietnam guide explains the three regions.
Sri Lanka
Colombo averages 30.9°C with five rain days in January, and Galle, on the south-west coast, 29.0°C with eight; Kandy, in the hills, averages 28.3°C. Our Sri Lanka holiday through Kandy, Ella and Bentota, six, eight or ten nights, is from £1,299 per person in January 2027.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar averages 32.1°C with seven rain days in January, three hours ahead of the UK. Our Zanzibar beach holiday, seven or ten nights, is from £1,499 per person in January 2027. The Zanzibar guide covers entry and the compulsory insurance.
The Maldives
Malé averages 30.3°C with six rain days and 114.2mm in January — about half December’s rainfall. Our Maldives escape, seven, nine or ten nights, is from £1,629 per person in January 2027. Ten nights pairing Dubai with an all-inclusive Maldives stay are from £2,399 per person; the Dubai and Maldives guide explains the split.
Bali
As hot as Langkawi, at 33.0°C, and in its wettest month, with 27 rain days and 345mm. Our Bali getaway, six, eight or ten nights, is from £949 per person in January 2027.
The Seychelles
Victoria averages 30.0°C, with 20 rain days and 403.7mm — its highest rainfall of the year. Our Seychelles beach retreat, seven or ten nights, is from £2,049 per person in January 2027; the Seychelles guide sets every month’s price against the rain.
Mauritius
Plaisance averages 29.8°C in January, its hottest month, with 16 rain days and 237mm. Our Mauritius family getaway, seven or ten nights, is from £1,199 per person in January 2027.
The Caribbean
Barbados averages 29.1°C with 11 rain days in January, Antigua 28.2°C with 10 and Jamaica 27.9°C with 9. St Lucia’s national weather service publishes seasons rather than months: January to March is its coolest season, averaging 26.4°C, and its dry season peaks from February to April. All-inclusive weeks in January 2027 are from £1,729 per person for seven nights on Barbados, £1,749 for eight in Jamaica, and £2,049 on Antigua or St Lucia. Our Caribbean in January guide compares the four islands.
Dubai
Dubai averages 24.0°C with 1.8 rain days in January, its coolest month, and is four hours ahead of the UK. Our Dubai city break, three, four or five nights, is from £579 per person in January 2027; the Dubai in January guide goes into the month in detail.
The Canary Islands
Tenerife averages 21.0°C, Gran Canaria 20.8°C and Lanzarote 20.7°C in January. Five nights are from £219 per person on Lanzarote, £379 on Tenerife and £409 on Gran Canaria in January 2027.
Marrakech and Agadir
Agadir, on the coast, averages 21.1°C with four rain days; Marrakech, inland, 19.1°C by day and 5.9°C at night. Our Marrakech and Agadir holiday, three nights in Marrakech then four in Agadir, is from £519 per person in January 2027. The Marrakech guide covers both stops.
What we set with you. Hotels, meal arrangements, the night split and your flights are all confirmed in writing before you pay anything. Prices shown are lead-in prices; your exact price depends on dates, nights, room and departure airport.
Where the figures come from
Temperatures and rain are official long-term averages, published by each country’s national weather service, most of them through the World Meteorological Organization:
- World Meteorological Organization — Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur, Zanzibar, Denpasar, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Antigua, Jamaica, Dubai, Marrakech and Agadir, Rome and Venice; the Canary Islands from Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (1981–2010); Colombo, Galle and Kandy from Sri Lanka’s National Meteorological Centre (1961–1990).
- Barbados — the Barbados Meteorological Services, 1991–2020.
- St Lucia — the Caribbean Regional Climate Centre, which publishes seasonal rather than monthly figures.
- Time differences — the IANA time zone database, for mid-January 2027.
Averaging periods differ between stations, so a difference of a few tenths of a degree is not a meaningful ranking. Zanzibar’s published rainfall figure does not sit consistently with its rain-day count, so only rain days are shown for it. Prices are lead-in prices for January 2027, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights from the UK; GOV.UK’s guidance on the Caribbean hurricane season was checked on 1 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where is hot in January?
South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean, where average highs in January run from about 28°C to 33°C. Langkawi, Phuket, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo combine that heat with five or fewer rain days. Bali is as hot, at 33.0°C, but January is its wettest month.
Where is warm in January?
The Caribbean averages 28–29°C, Dubai 24°C, and the Canary Islands and Agadir about 21°C in January. The Canaries and Agadir are on UK time, so they are the warm options with no jet lag. For real heat, above 30°C, you need to go further, to South East Asia or the Indian Ocean.
Where is hot and dry in January?
Bangkok is the driest of the eighteen places compared, with one rain day and 9mm of rain at an average high of 32.0°C. Langkawi and Ho Chi Minh City average two rain days, Phuket 4.2 and Colombo five, all above 30°C. Dubai is dry too, with fewer than two rain days, but only 24°C.
What is the hottest place to go in January?
Of the places we fly to, Langkawi and Bali share the highest average high in January, 33.0°C. Langkawi is the better bet for sun, with two rain days against Bali’s 27. Phuket, Zanzibar, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City all average 32°C or more.
Where is hot in January in Europe?
In Spain, the Canary Islands are the answer: Tenerife averages 21.0°C, Gran Canaria 20.8°C and Lanzarote 20.7°C. Agadir, just across the water in Morocco, averages 21.1°C. Mainland European cities are much cooler — Rome averages 11.9°C in January.
What is the cheapest hot holiday in January?
Five nights on Lanzarote are from £219 per person in January 2027, at about 21°C. For real heat with dry weather, Thailand is the lowest-priced, from £999 per person for seven nights in Bangkok and Phuket. Dubai is the cheapest long-haul option, from £579, at 24°C.
Is Thailand hot in January?
Yes. Bangkok averages 32.0°C with one rain day in January, and Phuket 32.4°C with 4.2 rain days. Our Bangkok and Phuket holiday is from £999 per person for seven nights in January 2027, £1,149 for ten and £1,249 for twelve.
Is Dubai hot in January?
Warm rather than hot. January is Dubai’s coolest month, with an average high of 24.0°C, a low of 13.7°C and fewer than two rain days. That suits sightseeing and the beach by day; evenings need a layer. A Dubai city break is from £579 per person in January 2027.
Is the Caribbean good in January?
Yes for warmth: Barbados averages 29.1°C, Antigua 28.2°C and Jamaica 27.9°C, each with 9 to 11 rain days, and January is outside the hurricane season. All-inclusive weeks are from £1,729 per person on Barbados in January 2027.
Is the Maldives good in January?
Yes. Malé averages 30.3°C with six rain days and 114.2mm in January, about half December’s rainfall, and February is drier again. Our Maldives escape is from £1,629 per person in January 2027; the price for your number of nights is confirmed when you enquire.
Is Bali good in January?
For heat, yes — 33.0°C. For dry weather, no: January is Bali’s wettest month, with 27 rain days and 345mm. If you want sun in the same part of the world, Langkawi and Phuket are as hot with two and 4.2 rain days.
Is Tenerife hot in January?
Warm, not hot. Santa Cruz de Tenerife averages 21.0°C in January, with eight rain days, and January is its coolest month. It is on UK time. Five nights on Tenerife are from £379 per person in January 2027.
Is January cheaper than December for winter sun?
On most holidays. Fifteen of the eighteen compared cost less in January 2027 than in December 2026: Thailand drops from £1,199 to £999 per person and Barbados from £1,949 to £1,729. Antigua and St Lucia cost £50 more in January.
Want some January sun priced?
Tell us your dates and whether you want heat, a short flight or the lowest price, and we will put the options side by side in writing before you pay anything.