7 Things To Do In Kratié, The Less-Visited Cambodian Province

Kratié is a province located in eastern Cambodia, with its main town – also called Kratié – situated on the banks of the mighty Mekong river. It’s a whole 240km north of hectic Phnom Penh, making it a great place to enjoy rural Cambodia and unwind for a day or two.

For those who love nature and wildlife, Kratié is the perfect location, as it’s home to beautiful riverside scenery, and lots of opportunities for outdoor activities, such as cycling, kayaking and hiking. Not only this, but the stretch of river just north of Kratié town is home to a pod of rare Irrawaddy dolphins, which are, without a doubt, the biggest attraction for the whole province.

I really recommend hiring a scooter – if you’re comfortable with it – to explore Kratié. While Kratié’s main town is where you’ll likely base yourself, a lot of the main things to do in Kratié province are outside of the town itself. Having a scooter to help you get around will be ideal. Alternatively, you could hire a tuk-tuk driver or even rent a bicycle to get yourself around.

So, without further ado, here is my list of 7 fun things to do in Kratié!

Things to do in Kratié

Visit the Irrawaddy dolphins

The biggest draw of Kratié is without a doubt the Irrawaddy dolphins. These are a species of river dolphin found in stretches of the Mekong across South Asia. Just 15km north of Kratié, in a small village called Kampi, resides a pod of about 20 Irrawaddy dolphins, which makes Kratié an excellent launching pad to visit these adorable critters.

You could either join an organised tour to see the dolphins, or hire a bicycle or scooter from Kratié and head towards Kampi. As you come into Kampi, you should spot a group of yellow boats waiting by the bank. These are there waiting to escort tourists out onto the river, in search of the dolphins.

The expert boatmen know exactly where the dolphins will be, so while sightings can’t be guaranteed, you’re very likely to see them. However, early morning or late afternoon are the best times to go, as the dolphins tend to be more active. They only surface for a brief moment, so the biggest challenge is trying and get a photo!

Visit the Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre

Half an hour’s drive north along the river from the dolphin spot at Kampi is a little town called Sambor. Sambor is a small place, but it’s home to the Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre. This conservation project is dedicated to protecting the Cantor’s giant softshell turtle, thought be the largest freshwater turtle!

Sadly though, populations of softshell turtles – including the Cantor’s giant softshell turtle – are endangered in Asia, where they are often eaten as a delicacy. To make things worse, the turtles come to the shore to nest, which makes them — and their eggs and hatchlings — particularly exposed to humans.

A monk looks after the Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre, where he helps to breed and nurture these rare freshwater turtles, before releasing them into the Mekong when they are ready. Luckily, his conservation work has helped to bring this species back from the brink of extinction and educate the local people about turtle conservation.

Entry to the centre costs 4 USD, with all proceeds going to the NGO.

View the 100 Pillar Pagoda

Right next to the Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre, you’ll find the 480-year-old historical treasure that is the 100 Pillar Pagoda. Also known as the 100 Columns Pagoda, it’s one of the most beautiful – and largest – temples in Cambodia.

About 100 years after the temple was originally built, it was struck by strong lightening, which caused 22 columns to burn down and the statues to become black with smoke. Because of this, the temple was pulled down and rebuilt by the local people, but they only built it to have 78 columns. It has since been reconstructed again, and now has 116 columns.

So it’s not really the 100 pillars pagoda any longer, but hey, who’s counting? It’s beautiful either way!

Go cycling on Koh Trong

Koh Trong is a sleepy 8km long sand-bar on The Mekong river, just across the water from Kratié town. Complete with bamboo huts, beaches, dirt roads and palm trees, the island provides a peaceful, vehicle-free slice of rural Cambodian life.

Koh Trong is perfect for cycling as a mostly smooth trail winds around the entire island. As you get off the ferry, you’ll simply need to walk up the beach to the tourism centre (which is essentially just a small shack), where you can rent a bicycle and maybe pick up some snacks and water for your ride. Bicycle rental is just a couple of dollars.

To get to Koh Trong, simply head to the pier in front of the Jasmine Boat Restaurant in downtown Kratié and hop on a ferry. The ferry costs about 1,000 riel (0.25 USD) to cross and takes roughly 5 minutes – a very cheap yet fun-filled day out!

Hang out at the Kampi rapids

Close to where you go see the dolphins is a picnic area known as the Kampi Rapids. Each year during the dry season, the Mekong’s water level drops significantly in this area, creating a shallow stretch of fast-moving water – a.k.a., rapids!

Wooden platforms are constructed over the top of the rapids, and hammocks, mats and bamboo huts are placed there for everyone to enjoy. Kampi Rapids are a local favourite, so expect to see lots of Kratié families there during the weekend.

It’s a great place to hang out during the dry season, where you can chill in a hammock under a bamboo hut or enjoy a swim. You can bring your own picnic, or there is plenty of food and drink available on site.

Watch the sunset over the Mekong

The sunset over the Mekong River at Kratié is one of the best in all of Cambodia. Grab a drink at one of the riverfront bars and take it all in, or opt for a walk along the promenade as the sunlight begins to dim.

Some great choices for riverfront restaurants/bars include Sorya Cafe, Jasmine Boat Restaurant and Green Restaurant.

Enjoy the Mekong Discovery Trail

The Mekong Discovery Trail project was launched in 2006 in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and a Dutch development organization (SNV). The goal of this was to enable tourists to experience some of the most naturally beautiful and least visited parts of the Mekong River.

The Mekong Discovery Trail is 180km long, running between Kratie and the Cambodian/Laos border. Along the trail, you’ll be able to see the Irrawaddy dolphins, cycle through rural villages, camp on the banks of the river, explore hiking trails, visit waterfalls, and so much more.

Unfortunately, funding for the project ran out in 2012. However, the legacy of this project continues, as ecotourism companies still use the trail and employ local guides to provide enriching experiences for tourists.

Check out Phnom Sambok Pagoda

Located about 10km north of Kratié town, the Phnom Sombok Pagoda is perched up high on a hill. To visit the main temple, you’ll need to make your way up 300 stairs, which are lined by a series of impressive monk statues. It’s fairly hard work in the Cambodian humidity, but as a reward for the climb, you’ll get a fantastic view of the rolling countryside below.

Phnom Sombok Pagoda is a great place to check out on the way to the dolphins at Kampi, or on the way back to Kratie town after visiting the 100 Pillar Pagoda and Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre.

And there we have it – 7 fun things to do in Kratié!

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