Geography

Situated in the northeastern part of Cambodia, Kratie province shares the frontier with Mondulkiri province in the east, Kampong Cham province and Vietnam in the south, Kampong Thom province in the west, and Stung Treng province in the north. Kratie covers an area of 11,094 square kilometers which is categorized into several areas such as 83% forest, agricultural land 8% and red land 0.5% in Snoul district.
Kratie province consists of five districts, 46 communes and 250 villages.The 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, wheres 30% live in the mountains areas. Thera are seven type of tribes in Kratie namely Phnorng, Kouy, Mil, Khonh, Steang, and Thamoun.
Kratie is famous for its cultural heritage and natural resource. The former Royal Capital Sampheak Borak in Chenla Era is located in Sambo. In addition, Kratie has Vihear Sarsar Mouy Rouy Pagoda ( One hundred-col-umn Pagoda) built in the 16th century. This pagoda is related to a Khmer legend Krapeur Nen Thun ( Venerable Monk Thun, the Crocodile). Moreover, Kratie has several temples built in the 8th century such as Khvas Pi, Pram, and Koh Kring that has perfect deities, ancient halls, Khmer ancient houses, and French-style builtdings. Customs and traditions, diveres festivals and rites, and everyday life activities are also the cultural heritages in the province.
The Mekong River, the natural resource, is about 140 km long flowing through Kratie province. The river is a sanctuary for priceless Irrawaddy dolphins ( the rare fresh water mammals), fishes, and birds. The river also has hundreds of green island, and circling water, which attract tourists. Besides, there are some large areas of forests such as Phnom Pram Poan range( 5,000-mountain range), which are sanctuaries for diverse wildlife, and Phnom Prech, and rubber plantations.
These cultural and natural potentials are the significant tourist attractions in Kratie province.

.:. Kratie in Cambodia Map .:.

Kratie Map

* Kratie's area = 11.094 Km2

* There are 5 districts,
46 communces
and 257 villages

* Population: 263,175

* Phnom Penh-Kratie Distance: 315 Km

* By national road no:
7 and 13

What to see

Whether you are just on a trip, seeing, cottages, blue rice field and forest along the road which is good looking.

And 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.

Kratie is a sleepy Mekong River town situated on the east bank of the mighty river. It’s very 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.

The dolphins are the town's main tourist attraction. The Mekong Dolphin Conservation project estimates that there are only 170 dolphins left in the upper Cambodian Mekong area. The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of Kratie. With only around fifteen to twenty remaining, they are worth a visit.

How to go Kratie Province

To go from Phnom Penh, the best way is by boat and bus, and to leave for a journey from 5 to 6 hours among which a big part on the Mekong river, to arrive in this town at the edge of the river.

.:. Bullet Boat .:.

There are several alternatives to get to Kratie, the easiest of which is by the bullet boats that ply the Mekong River. If you are coming from Kampong Cham and don’t have a motorcycle, the boat is probably your only option. At the time of this writing, the share taxis were not making the full trip to Kratie; they were only going as far as Snuol.
The bullet boat from Phnom Penh departs from the bullet boat company docks located just north of the Japanese Bridge at 7 am. The trip takes just over five hours and costs 25,000 riel. From Kampong Cham to Kratie, the bullet boat takes about three hours and costs 15,000 riel. The boat pier in Kampong Cham is directly in front of the Mekong Hotel. The kratie-Stung Treng bullet boat trip only runs during the rainy season when the water level in the Mekong is sufficient enough to allow the boats to get through the numerous stretches of shallow rapids and various other obstacles on this stretch of the river. As of May 2000 the rainy season was in full swing and the boats were running every other day at a fare of 20,000 riels. The trip upriver to Steng takes around 6-7 hours, with the trip back down to Kratie, going with the current, taking about 4 hours.

.:. By Bus .:.

Other way to get there, you can ride some bus company. If you leave from Phnom Penh to directly Kratie you can book bus ticket first or buy it at the time you go. But if you buy it at the time you go, you maybe difficult to buy because some time will be so busy which there are no free seat but you can still find other bus companies.

Place of Interest

.:. Kampi .:.

This is where the famous Irrawaddy dolphins live, about seventeen kilometers north of town. There is a viewing platform or you can take a boat out on the river. Environmentalists are urging people not to go out in motorized boats. Seems like good advice.
This is where the famous Irrawaddy dolphins live, about seventeen kilometers north of town. There is a viewing platform or you can take a boat out on the river. Environmentalists are urging people not to go out in motorized boats. Seems like good advice.

.:. The 100-column pagoda .:.

Located at Sam Bor District in 36-kilometer distance, North of the provincial town by the National Road No 7. The special features of Sar Sar-100 pagoda are: The 100-column pagoda was built on the place where the Royal Palace temple of Sam Phu Borak Capital of the Chen La time located. At the area, there are four-Buddist temples facing to different directions:

Vihear Lao faces to the West
Vihear Sar Sar-100 faces to the North
Vihear Kork Keut faces to the Est
Vihear Kork faces to the South (this Buddhist temple has only base and mark remain).
During the Khmer New Year, the local people who live near the former sam Phu Bo Rak Capital usually celebrate the four-day festival by starting at Vihear Sar Sar-100 first, then Vihear Kork and Vihear Lao lastly. Background of Vihear Sar Sar-100: Was built in 1806 and the size is 30 Meters x 30 Meters. In the former time, at the 100th column, was thatched by Preah Ang Chan Reachea II for dedicating to the power of Vihear sar sar-100 to maintain the soul of Preah Neang Varakak, his daughter who was swallowed by the crocodile, Nen Thun. Vihear Sar Sar-100 is different to other temples because it faces to the North. About 100 years later, the temple was damaged by the strong lightening, which caused 22 columns burnt down and the statues dirtied by smoke. Because of this incident, the temple was pulled down and rebuilt by the local people, but it had only 78 columns. Until 1987, the 100-column pagoda has once again been renovated with 35-meter length, 18-meter width, 23-meter height and 116 columns; also, the temple has completely been renovated, inaugurated and Sey Ma buried on January 14, 1998.

Phnom Sombok is a rather nifty temple north of town. Situated on the only hill anywhere near Kratie, all you have to do is head north and look for the hill. A long set of steps lead to a pavilion, the interior of which is painted with more torture scenes, depictions of what happens to those not virtuous enough to lead a holy and clean lifestyle.

Sambor is a pre-Angkorian era settlement, about 40 kilometres from Kratie. The temples, among which is Wat Sorsor Muoy Roi, contain several colourful mutrals that tell legends of nature, and other traditional Buddhist stories. The original structure is no longer standing, in its place is a reconstructed temple.

Place for dinning

Aside from the usual assortment of food and drink stalls in town, there's a few different restaurants for you to eat at.

.:. Mekong Restaurant .:.

The Mekong Restaurant is where you'll find some of the better quality food in town. Among the items on it's menu are such dishes as the staples of fried rice, grilled chicken, and rather tasty french fries. Dishes go for $1-2.

.:. Simon Restautant .:.

The Simon Restaurant features consistently good Khmer good, with sold wooden furniture, which is a great change from the plastic chairs everywhere else has. Meals are also $1-2 per dish.

Where to stay

As Kratie has developed rather nicely to meet the demands of backpackers it receives, there are several guesthouses to recommend.

.:. Star Guesthouse .:.

The Star Guesthouse, 072-971663, has been elevated by tourist and guidebook alike to the status of best in town, and in many ways it really is. It often gets the lion's share of backpacker's during the busy parts of the year. The rooms are of good quality, and the staff speak relatively excellent English, and are more than prepared to offer a plethora of local travel tips for you. $2-3, $4-5 (Single-double, larger rooms)

.:. Heng Heng Hotel .:.

Heng Heng Hotel, 072-971405, Rue Sumamarit, now offers riverfront rooms of very good quality, if significantly pricier than other options in town. This place has been upgrading itself significantly over the past few years, and now has hot running water. The restaurant downstairs is a good option for dinner, too. $5-12 (Single-double)

.:. Sante Pheap Hotel .:.

Santepheap Hotell, 072-971537, Rue Sumamarit, has long been considered the best hotel in town, in terms of overall quality. Comes complete with hot running water and cable channels (including CNN) for your viewing pleasure. It also features a small restaurant downstairs. $5-10 (Single-double)
Oudom Sambath Hotel, 072-971502, Rue Sumamarit, is a relative newcomer to the scene. It features some of the same quality of service offered from the other guesthouses and hotels, but one major bonus point in its favour is that the uppermost rooms offer a fantastic view of the Mekong. $5-10 (Single-double)

Night Entertainment

Before the night come you can see beautifull sunset on the river field.

River Scene 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.

General Information

.:. Hotel and Guest House List .:.

=>> Hotel <<=

- Sante Pheap

- Heng Heng

- Udom Sambath

- Hor Buny

- Chhne Tonle

- Heng Udom

=>> Guest House <<=

- Mohar Udom

- Vimean Tep

- Tic Vuthy

- Hy Heng Ly

- Tara

- Phnom Meas

- Sok San

- Sen Sok

There are 190 rooms which have 157 of two beds, 33 of one bed, 117 of air-conditioner rooms, 73 of fan rooms. 2 USD to 10 USD per day for Guess house 5 USD per day for Hotel which has fan rooms 10 USD to 20 USD per day for Hotel which has air-conditioner rooms

.:. Bus Companies List .:.

- Capital Bus Company

- G-S-T Bus Company

- Mekong Express Bus Company

- Neak Kror Horm ( Red Trgon ) Bus Company

G.S.T.'s station is behind the Shell Gas Station at the Central Market whereas Mekong Express (as the name implies).