Kratie: Mekong dolphins on the way east
Kratie on the Mekong: the Irrawaddy dolphins at Kampi, river islands and sunsets, and why it works as a stop between Phnom Penh and Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri.
Sunset over the Mekong at Kratie
Researched from published sources
In short
Kratie is a quiet Mekong river town about 253 km north-east of Phnom Penh. Its draw is the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, seen from small boats at Kampi, about 16 km north. It is best as one night on the way to Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri, which splits a very long road day in two.
Kratie is the kind of Mekong town that rewards an unhurried evening: a riverfront of shophouses, fishing platforms out on the water and, in the dry season, wide sandbanks and islands appearing as the river drops. For travelers heading to Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri, it is also the natural halfway point.
The dolphins at Kampi
About 16 km north of town, the Mekong runs through a deep pool at Kampi where Irrawaddy dolphins gather to feed. Small boats take visitors out for roughly an hour; Rough Guides notes trips run a little longer in the wet season, when the dolphins move further downriver. The animals surface with a soft blow and a rounded grey head, then disappear again. It is quiet, unhurried wildlife watching rather than a spectacle.
The population is tiny and critically endangered. Provincial officials reported about 114 dolphins in the Cambodian Mekong in March 2026 after several years of births outpacing deaths; WWF’s last formal survey put the number at 89 for 2017 to 2020. Either way, how the boats behave matters. Choose an operator whose boats approach slowly, cut engines and keep their distance.
Beyond the dolphins
Kayak operators in town run half-day and full-day trips on the river, combining dolphin watching with paddling and short walks; Rough Guides lists Sorya Kayaking Adventures among them. Koh Trong, the island opposite town, is small, flat and quiet enough to explore by bicycle, with homestays for those who want to stay on the river. Further north, community homestays on river islands were developed as part of the Mekong Discovery Trail; check that a programme is still running before planning around it.
Fitting Kratie into a route
From Phnom Penh, Kratie is about 253 km by road, then about 207 km on to Sen Monorom or 244 km to Banlung. Splitting the journey here turns two exhausting days into four easier ones, and puts the dolphins into an afternoon you would otherwise spend in a van. Our eight-day eastern Cambodia route does exactly that.
Seasons at a glance
Questions travelers ask
Will I definitely see dolphins at Kratie?
No, but the Kampi pool is where a group of dolphins regularly feeds, and most boat trips see some. Many visitors go early or late in the day, when it is cooler. Good practice is for boats to approach slowly, cut their engines and keep their distance; if yours chases the animals, ask the driver to stop.
How many Irrawaddy dolphins are left in the Mekong?
Officials in Kratie reported about 114 in March 2026, a running tally of births and deaths that has risen in recent years. WWF’s last formal survey estimate was 89 for 2017 to 2020. The two numbers use different methods, but both describe a very small population.
Is Kratie worth it if I am not going further east?
On its own it is a long way to go for an hour with the dolphins. It makes the most sense as an overnight stop that breaks the journey to Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 11 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
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