Kratie is a sleepy country town situated on the east bank of Mekong River, 315km
far from Phnom Penh and home of the rare Irrawaddy dolphin. It’s very picturesque
with sandbars and big islands out front and bends in the river. Unlike many towns
around
Cambodia, the war years were fairly kind to the French architecture and the
roads, at least in the town itself. There are some nice-looking homes of French
and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place.
What to do? The most remarkable thing about Kratie is the fact that it is the only place in
Cambodia allowing us to witness the freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins (a 25 minute motor
ride from town via a road lined with authentic rural Cambodian life). This includes
a half an hour boat trip to the rapids upstream (worthwhile when the river is high)
and a visit at a temple in the mountains.
Aside from the dolphins, there's ample
opportunity for boat-trips, village walks and general exploring. There is a bustling
market which is a great place to watch frogs being skinned (and escaping first through
the holes in the nets), sample some delicious foods (such as freshly grilled corn
cakes) and generally take in rural
Cambodian life.
In addition, Kratie seems to
straddle on the half way between Phnom Penh and Ratanakiri, which makes a good
base to visit the remote eastern Ratanakiri.
When to go? The best time to visit Kratie is from November to March when humidity is bearable,
temperatures are cooler and it's unlikely to rain. It is best to go and see dolphins
in early mornings or late afternoons.
