Kratie

Travelers go to Kratie to see Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong, then spend a slow day or two in a small river town.

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Kratie is a riverside town in northeastern Cambodia and the capital of Kratie Province, on the Mekong River. It lies several hours by road northeast of Phnom Penh, so the trip is usually a long day by bus or private car. The town is known for the Irrawaddy dolphins that live in the stretch of the Mekong just north of it, a small population of grey, blunt-headed dolphins that surface in the slow, shallow water. Boats leave from the riverbank to look for them.

The town is compact and easy to walk, with a riverfront of shophouses, local markets and a slow pace that suits a stop on the road northeast from Phnom Penh. Trips here tend to be short and unhurried. One or two nights is enough to take a dolphin boat trip, walk the river and eat Mekong fish. The dry season, roughly November to April, is the usual time to travel, while the river runs high during the rainy months.

Kratie in five

Book a boat at Kampi for the dolphinsIrrawaddy dolphins surface in the Mekong near Kampi, a short ride north of Kratie. Go early, before the midday heat, and agree the boat fare before you set off.
Carry small US dollar notes and rielUS dollars are widely used, but change often comes back in riel, and torn or heavily marked dollar notes are often refused. Carry small bills in both currencies.Money and costs
Buy a Cellcard, Smart or Metfone SIM earlyBuy a local SIM from Cellcard, Smart or Metfone on arrival in Phnom Penh. You will need data for bus times, maps and bookings once you reach Kratie.Phones and eSIM
Apply for the Cambodia e-visa before you flyMost visitors need an e-visa or can get a visa on arrival, but the official e-visa site is the place to apply online. Check the entry rules for your passport first.Visas and entry
Take a bus from Phnom Penh along Route 7Buses run from Phnom Penh to Kratie on National Road 7 and take several hours. Check the bus company's timetable the day before, since departures change.Getting around

Things to do in Kratie

See all attractions in Kratie

A man sitting on a bench in front of a sign

Sight · KratieWat Sorsor Moi Roi

Elderly woman with red headscarf and traditional earrings

Sight · KratieChhlong

Temple · KratiePhnom Sambok Pagoda

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KratiePut the places you like in Kratie on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Riel (KHR); US dollars widely used
Entry: E-visa or visa on arrival for most visitors; check the official e-visa site Read more
Emergency: 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance
Tipping: Not expected; small tips for guides and drivers are appreciated
Time: UTC+7, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Cool, dry
FebruaryClear2 rainy daysHigh34°Low23°Cool, dry
MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh36°Low25°Hot, dry
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh35°Low27°Hottest, New Year
MayRain25 rainy daysHigh34°Low26°Rains start
JuneRain25 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Rainy season
JulyRain27 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Rainy, high water
AugustRain28 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Rainy, high water
SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Rains ease
OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Rains end
NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, cool
DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Dry, cool

Average daily high and low in Kratie, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kratie

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 30°
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 90%

Kratie

03:37 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today32°25°90%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
Wed32°25°75%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 75%.
Thu32°25°51%Thursday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 51%.
Fri33°24°47%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 33°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 47%.
Sat32°24°69%Saturday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 69%.
Sun32°24°57%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 57%.

Updated 12:57 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 4,107 KHR

Amount

Converted to

KHR · Cambodian Riel

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Kampiunder 1 hour by roadThe village where boats leave for Irrawaddy dolphin trips on the Mekong.
Sambor Prei Kukseveral hours by roadBrick temple ruins from the 7th century, set in a quiet forest park.
Phnom Penhseveral hours by busThe capital, with museums and the riverfront, a long bus ride from Kratie.

Before you go to Kratie

eSIM for CambodiaData for maps, bus times and bookingsRead the guide

Insurance for river tripsCover for boat trips and motorbike ridesRead the guide

Money and cards in CambodiaRiel, US dollars and ATM accessRead the guide

Stays in KratieRiverside guesthouses and town hotelsRead the guide

Rules for Kratie, checked

Most visitors need an e-visa or a visa on arrival. Check eligibility and fees only on the official e-visa site, evisa.gov.kh, before you book.
Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas and temples, and take off your shoes before entering a shrine or a home.
Drug offences in Cambodia carry severe penalties. Check the local rules with your embassy before you travel.
Declare large sums of cash on arrival. Check the current limit with Cambodian customs before you fly in.
Do not take antiquities or carved stone out of Cambodia without permission. Check export rules with the Ministry of Culture.

Plan around Kratie

All of Cambodia

Entry, transport and money for a Cambodia trip

Read the guide Visas and entry

How to apply for the Cambodian e-visa before you travel

Read the guide Getting around

Buses from Phnom Penh and getting around town

Read the guide Money and costs

Riel, US dollars, ATMs and typical prices

Read the guide Where to stay

Guesthouses along the river and in town

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

SIM cards and offline maps for the trip

Read the guide

Kratie FAQ

Is Kratie worth visiting?

Yes, if you want to see Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong and a slow river town. It has few major sights, so it suits a trip that is mainly about the river.

How do you see the Irrawaddy dolphins near Kratie?

Take a boat from Kampi, a short ride north of Kratie. Go early, before the midday heat. Agree the fare with the boatman before you set off.

How do you get to Kratie from Phnom Penh?

By bus along National Road 7, which takes several hours. Check the bus company's timetable the day before. In town, motorbike taxis and tuk-tuks cover short trips.

How many days do you need in Kratie?

One night is enough for an early boat trip and a walk along the river. Stay two nights if you want a second boat trip.

Can you pay in US dollars in Kratie?

Often, yes, for hotels, boats and larger purchases. Small shops usually give change in riel, so carry small bills in both currencies.

When is the best time to visit Kratie?

November to February, when the days are dry and cooler. April is hot, and May to October is the rainy season, when the river is high and roads can be muddy.