Kratie

Welcome to Kratie

Kratié is one of Cambodia’s eastern provinces with less population, who make their lives on the
riverbanks of the Mekong. Beyond the riverbanks it is a remote place with almost no population
and thick-forested areas to calm down. The provincial capital is also called Kratié and lies also
on the banks of the mighty Mekong River, which emboss the province from the North to the
South. The stretch of the river around Kratié town is home to a group of rare sweet water
Irrawaddy dolphins. Therefore the dolphins are the main tourist attraction of the province and
the town. The river also has hundreds of green island, and circling water, which are also
attracting some tourists.
Kratie town is sleepy but picturesque with sandbars and big islands out front and bends in the
river. Unlike in many towns around Cambodia, the war years were fairly kind to the French
architecture and the roads, at least in the town itself. There are some nice-looking homes of
French and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place. You’ll also
find a bustling market which is a great place to watch frogs being skinned (and escaping first
through the holes in the nets), sample some delicious foods (such as freshly grilled corn cakes)
and generally take in rural Cambodian life.
The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of
Kratie. With only around 120 remaining, they are surely worth a visit.
Whether you are just on a trip seeing the river towns along the Mekong or taking a full circuit
trip around the east and northeast, Kratie is a nice place to spend a night or two. The river
scene of Kratie has a beautiful river boulevard with dozens of snack and drink stands in the late
afternoon and evening, making this a nice spot to chill out and watch the people parading by.
There are also a few big concrete decks along the river scene. The river road is a great place
for a stroll or jog. Enjoy the dramatic sunsets over the Mekong.
Geogrophy

Kratie province is 11,094 square kilometres big, which is categorized into several areas such as
83% forest, agricultural land 8% and red land 0.5% in Snoul district. It’s located in the East of
the country and is bordering to the North with Stueng Treng, to the East with Mondulkiri, to the
West with Kampong Thom and to the South with Kampong Cham. The province consists mainly
of thick forested area, where you still can see the 1970-75 bombings due to big craters in the
countryside, some filled with water. You also may find the typical plain wet area for Cambodia,
covering rice fields and other agricultural plantations, even if it’s just a small percentage of
agriculturally used land concerning the rest of Cambodia. The province features the biggest river
of the country (approx. 140km of it), the mighty Mekong with its small rapids and critically
endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.

Population
The current population of Kratie is approximately 290,000 and the population density is 26
people per sq.km. Roughly 70% of the people live along the river, whereas 30% live in the
mountainous area. There are seven types of tribes in Kratie: the Phnorng, the Kouy, the Mil, the
Khonh, the Steang, and the Thamoun.
Climate
The country has a tropical climate – warm and humid. In the monsoon season, abundant rain
allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. This year-round tropical climate makes
Cambodia ideal for developing tourism. Travellers need not to fear natural disasters such as
erupting volcanoes or earthquakes, and the country is not directly affected by tropical storms.
Climate: Cambodia can be visited throughout the year. However, those plans to travel
extensively by road should be avoided the last two months of the rainy season when some
countryside roads may be impassable. The average temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius;
the minimum temperature is about 16 degrees. December and January are the coolest months,
whereas the hottest is April.
General information about the provincial climate:
– Cool season: November- March (18-26c)
– Hot season: March- May (27c -35c)
– Rainy season: May – October (26-34c, with humidity up to 90%.)