Kratie and the Irrawaddy Dolphins

A Mekong River Town And The Best Place In Cambodia To See Irrawaddy Dolphins From A Boat At Kampi Pool, Where A Handful Survive In A Critically Endangered Freshwater Population. A Slow Riverside Stop Between Phnom Penh And Laos, Best In The Dry Season · Kratie, Kratie

Kratie (said roughly Kra-cheh) is a calm Mekong river town in north-east Cambodia, and the best place in the country to look for Irrawaddy dolphins. About 15 km north of town, at Kampi pool, small boats take visitors onto a deep stretch of the river where a handful of these blunt-nosed freshwater dolphins still live. The population is critically endangered and the animals are few, so sightings are not guaranteed. Most trips show a few grey backs and fins breaking the surface, not a show. Kratie also offers Mekong sunsets, the pagoda hill of Phnom Sambok, and a slow cycle around Koh Trong island in the river. It suits travellers who like quiet river towns and wildlife without crowds. It is 4 to 5 hours from Phnom Penh by road, and a natural stop on the way to Stung Treng, Ratanakiri or Laos. Worth the detour if you have a day to spare; skip it if you only want a guaranteed animal sighting.

Kratie town on the Mekong and the Kampi pool, about 15 km north of the town, in north-east Cambodia, Kratie, Kratie, Cambodia

Boats at Kampi pool run daily in daylight, and the two best windows are around dawn and the late afternoon, when the dolphins surface most often. Exact times vary by operator, so confirm with your guesthouse. Walking along the Kratie riverfront, the market and Koh Trong is FREE at any hour. The Kampi ticket booth and boat landing may be CLOSED in the middle of the day or after dark. Boats do not go out in strong wind, storms or when the river is dangerously high, and the pool can be CLOSED to boats for a day if conditions are poor. Phnom Sambok pagoda is open in daylight; the hill is FREE to climb, though a donation is welcome.

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