3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
340 km from Phnom Penh by car
When to go
From November to March
Minimum stay
One day
Kratie (Cambodia)
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David Debrincat
Practical information about Kratie
Reviews of Kratie
Kratié is a peaceful little town lying on the banks of the Mekong River, 340 km from Phnom Penh.
My suggestion:
At sunset, the Mekong takes on a magical golden colour. This is the best time to see the pink Irrawaddy dolphins.
Summary:
Kratié is not normally one of the places included on the itinerary when touring Cambodia. Nevertheless, it is worth making a trip to see.
I recommend visiting Kratié for the opportunity to enjoy the peace and quiet it has to offer. It genuinely is an ideal place to stop off at when doing a combined tour of Cambodia and Laos. It's true there's not much to do here, so you just need to simply spend your time leisurely wandering along the Mekong. The life that takes place on and around the river provides a spectacle you simply won't want to miss. Something else you can do in Kratié is hire a scooter and head off to meet the people who live in the surrounding villages. They always have a warm welcome to offer, and you get the chance to enjoy richly rewarding encounters with genuine local people. In short, if you go to the effort of visiting Kratié, you won't regret it.
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David Debrincat
Kratie is most famous for trips along the Mekong in a - fruitless - search for the fresh water dolphins.
My suggestion:
Take the time to walk round the town, cross the Mekong to go to the island opposite, and take a bike ride - nothing better for learning to live at the same nonchalant pace as the Cambodians.
Summary:
This is where the last examples of the fresh water Irrawaddy dolphins, with their rounded snout, swim. Cycle to the jetty, try to find someone to share the cost of the boat with you and be charmed by a cruise on the Mekong.
You'll only see the nose of these famous dolphins, very little indeed, but the trip itself is worth the journey. Kratie is the main town of a province where there is not much to do except relax. Perfect for city dwellers on a mission or for long haul travellers who have had enough of busy tourist areas. It's a remarkable spot, not for what there is to see but for the way of life (which is generally worth a lot during a trip to Cambodia).
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paularps
108 travellers' photos
