Kratie is a heavily forested province spanning the MekongRiver, whose banks are home to most of the province’s population. Beyond the river it’s a remote and wild area that has seen few outsiders. Most visitors are here to view the rare freshwater dolphins found 15km north of the provincial capital, and for good reason, as other attractions are thin on the ground. However, the town of Kratie is a charming little place and makes a good base to check out the surrounding countryside. This was one of the first areas to fall to Khmer Rouge control in the civil war although fro several years it was in fact the Vietnamese communists who were running the show.
The port of Chhlong is southwest Kratie somehow held out against the communists until 1975, probably a useful way for the Khmer Rouge to acquire arms from corrupted government forces. It was also one of the first provincial capitals to fall to the liberating Vietnamese forces in the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge on 30 December 1998.
In the past, getting about was easier by boat than by road, as most roads in the province were pretty horrible. However, Kratie is now connected to Kampong Cham by two good roads: reconstructed NH7 which winds through Snoul before boomeranging back towards Phnom Penh, and the pretty road south to Chhlong and the district of Suong.
The little sleepy town of Kratie is the best place in the country to see the rare Irriwaddy dolphins, which live in the Mekong River in ever-diminishing numbers – for that reason alone it is well worth a stop when traveling by land between Phnom Penh and Rattanakiri or the Lao border. A compact but populous riverside town, Kratie (proouced kraches) is well preserved as it was spared the war-time bombing that destroyed so many other provincial centers. It was one of the first town to be ‘liberated’ by the Khmer Rouge (actually it was the North Vietnamese, but the Khmer Rouge later took the credit) in the summer of 1970. There are some dramatic sunset over the Mekong and some very old Khmer houses on the northern reaches of Rue Preah Sihanouk.
Koh Pdao Community Homestay, Kratie Province Koh Pdao is located on an island in the Mekong, you will find the Koh Pdao Dolphin Pool. This is one of the few places where you can see the rare Irrawaddy river dolphin. With the Community Development Tour, you travel up the Mekong River from Kratie to Koh Pdao Island. To spend some days to visit to the community you learn about the lives and stories of the Cambodians and stay in their homes as a guest. You will participate in project activities and get involved with the community. This will give a rare glimpse of how Cambodians live in the countryside.
Phnom Sambok Resort, Kratie Province Is the natural and historical resort, locates at Thmor Kre Commune, Kratie District in 11 – Km distance from the provincial town by the National Road No 7, then turning more 500 Meters to the mountain. Phnom Sam Bok is the cultural and main tourist resort of Kratie province. The resort has good location and assured safety for tourists to visit. Phnom Sam Bok has been arranged as the tourist resort since the Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum time. The legend said that one upon the time, there was a king named Cha Krey Sara Varman a son of Preah Bat Hathak Athi Reach Varman. After he was on throne instead of his father, he informed officials and high officials to find where having gold mine. The local people there called the place ‘Kan Leng Sam Bo Meas’ means ‘a place very rich in gold’. Long time after that, the word changed to ‘Phnom Sambok Meas’. Then only ‘Phnom Sam Bor’ until now. The background of Phnom Sam Bok: At the beginning of the 15th century, there was a monk named Neak Voan, the student who has the same teacher to the monk, Neak Sen. Neak Sen is the teacher of crocodile, Nen Thun and he does neditation on the mountaintop of Sam Bok. The monk, Neak Voan has very strong ritual formulas and he is well known to the near and far local people. The local people accompany each other to learn ritual formulas from Neak Voan. Since that, Phnom Sam Bok becomes the worshipping place until now.
Chhlong (The Cham Village), Kratie Province
The Cham village Chhlong, Kratie is one of the popular Tourist Attractions in Kratie. It is a village located in this small town in Cambodia. The Cham village Chhlong, Kratie is famous for the manufacture of cane baskets and other ornamental cane ware. The place is a favorite among travelers, both from within the country and abroad. Whether you are in Kratie on a holiday or a vacation, the Cham village is a pleasant tourist spot.
In order to reach the Cham village Chhlong in Kratie, you have to travel further within the town. The Cham village Chhlong, Kratie is situated 30 kms to the south of Kratie City. The biggest is the Cham village Chhlong with a population of about 4000 villagers. The only source of sustenance of these inhabitants is weaving.
Kampy Resort (Dolphin Watching Place), Kratie Province The Kam Py Resort, Kratie is a renowned natural resort of the picturesque town of Kratie. The Kam Py Resort, Kratie houses a beautiful population of dolphins. The Kam Py Resort, Kratie beckons the local as well foreign visitors. The Kam Py Resort, Kratie receives thousands of visitors usually from the period between January and May.
The Kam Py Resort in Kratie also has a highly developed infrastructure. Travelers can find a host of facilities at the Kam Py Resort, Kratie including the floating cottages, crossing bridge, security guards and emergency agency, also houses restaurants and soft drink shops. You will find plenty of tourists flocking at the Kam Py Resort, Kratie during special occasions like the Khmer New Year.
Kratie Kam Py Resort is located at a distance of 15 kilometers from the Kratie, the provincial town of Cambodia and is ideally located giving the travelers easy access to the nearby tourist destinations as well. Kam Py Resort, Kratie is deemed as one of the popular tourist attractions in Kratie and is also a popular hang out place for the swimmers.
Wat Sosor Muoy Roy (Hundred Pillars Pagoda), Kratie Province The Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy, Kratie is one of the oft frequented among the Tourist Attractions in Kratie, one of the four provinces in northeastern Cambodia. Although it is relatively remote and not a heavily visited heavily tourist destination, traveling here will not bring a heavy toll down on your pockets. There is no large scale tourism in Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy, Kratie, but the site is visited by plenty of backpackers who keep pouring here all through the peak season. Initiatives have been undertaken by the government to develop the town to meet the increasing demand of tourism.
There are also very good budget accommodation facilities at the Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy, Kratie that are well known among the backpacking circles. The Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy in Kratie is positioned in a place that has been historically relevant - for being site of a flourishing pre Angkorian city. The place is locally famous for being home to the largest wat or temple in Cambodia, the Temple with 100 Columns, which is known as the Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy in the vernacular. The best part is that you can take a number of pictures from the flight.
The original structure of the temple of the Wat Sorsor Muoy Roy, Kratie is no longer existent. Instead, what stands today in the place of the original construct is a reconstructed temple. The temple of Sorsor Muoy Roy is situated at a distance of 40 kilometers from Kratie. In fact, Cambodia offers tourists a string of attractions and natural wonders, from roots of ancient plants, the graceful shapes of the Apsaras or the beautiful court dancers of the gods and temples in the jungle, hill tribes in remote areas, colorful pagodas, immaculate isles and the beaches.
Wat Roka Kandal, Kratie Province The Wat Roka Kandal, Kratie is one of the well known Tourist Attractions in Kratie. A former pagoda, the Wat Roka Kandal has been constructed between the end of 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. It is the oldest conserved pagoda in Cambodia. The interior decorations are reminiscent of pagodas in the Luang Prabang area. The Wat Roka Kandal, Kratie has been abandoned since many years and a new pagoda has been constructed in its place. This was because the Wat Roka Kandal was in a critical condition. It required urgent renovation as 90% of the traditional paintings and wooden construction had been badly damaged. On a request of the provincial authorities, the partnership program of the Cambodian Craft Cooperation (CCC) and the German Chamber of Trade and Skilled Crafts of Koblenz City had decided to set up a regional center for traditional crafts in Kratie, the land of the pagodas. The project, financed by the German Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, held the renovation from February to July 2002.
The building of the former pagoda, the Wat Roka Kandal, Kratie and other training facilities land are used for a development program for the4000 female wicker workers Kratie Province is home to. Further training using eco friendly materials like bamboo, tree leafs and rattan is also held.
The Wat Roka Kandal in Kratie offers exhibition of the crafts of Kratie and other parts of Cambodia, as well as projects of the CCC - Koblenz Chamber, to preserve and improve this economic sector. A shop of wicker work is also present within the premises displaying basket products from Kratie, pottery products from Kampong Chhnang, and silk products from Takeo. There is also an information board on pagoda renovation and the Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie.
Irrawady Dophin Watching, Kratie Province Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching, Kratie is one of the favorite pastimes of the travelers who drop in to the small town of Kratie in Cambodia. Dolphin Watching is one of the Tourist Attractions in Kratie. Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching, Kratie takes you to the most scenic spots to watch these really cute marine creatures at the Kompi Fisherman Village, located 15 kms to the north of Kratie. The place can be best accessed by motor car from the town. It will take you 20 minutes to reach the locale. You can charter a small boat from and take a look at the mirthful creatures underwater or swimming on the surface. The best time to watch them is after rainfall, just after sunrise and just before sunset.
Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching in Kratie can be undertaken in one of the long boats. Although a tad tricky to spot, you will be able to see a fair few flashes of fins and nose as the dolphins come up on the water for air. These Irrawaddy dolphins are moderately small with stub noses. It may be a Disney like experience to watch the dolphins come up to the boat and play with you, leaping in the wake and shooting overhead. However, this is something that will depend on their temperament.
Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching, Kratie is a welcome deviation from the time honored facets of regular sightseeing. You get to know about the movement patterns, habitat, population size and threats encountered by these animals. The socio economic importance of dolphins is also relevant. Unlike most of the other tourist activities, Dolphin Watching on the River Irrawaddy also introduces the local delights to travelers. These come in the form of the local seafood dishes and curios, which are bought by the tourists.
