- Cambodian Cooking Class rated "excellent" by 4 travelers
Book 2 people on Day in a Life
Email us the code word 'TREE'
and 2 trees will be planted for a village family
Kratie Irrawaddy Dolphin ( 1 night extension from Siem Reap)
Enjoy a night on the sand bar island of Koh Trong - The Kings Island
Kratie (Kra -Chay) is set on the banks of the Mekong River around 16km from the Dolphin pools. The town has a bustling market and stalls line the river banks of an evening. Kratie is famous for its Sticky Rice called Krolan. There is a small village some 10km from town that is famous for its Krolan, with some families having been making it for over fifty years. The sticky rice is mixed with coconut and beans and cooked in bamboo tubes, it can keep like this for several days.
Koh Trong is a small island on the river. For 8 months of the year this island is surrounded by sandy beaches and constantly cooled by the breeze off the river. It is an island where time has stood still, a place to return to a simpler way of life. There are no cars and no rush, so unwinding is a matter of course for visitors as is getting in touch with nature.
From roughly Aug to Nov the river engulfs the sandy beach and the waters lap at the island banks. For the rest of the year the waters retreat and sandy banks surround the island. This is our base for this overnight extension from Siem Reap.
Kratie Irrawaddy Dolphin 1 Night Extension
| 6am | Depart Siem Reap and head to Kompong Thom - The drive to Kratie takes around 4.5 hours with no stops. To break the journey up a little we take time after Kompong Cham to stop in the Chlong District |
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The Cham people are from Chlong District, located on the way from Kompong Cham to Kratie. the Cham people are a Muslim minority living on the banks of the Mekong in stilt homes. |
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| Lunch | Kampi is a small town outside of Kratie, sitting on the banks of the Mekong River. We quickly head across to the hotel to check in, before stopping for lunch. |
| Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Centre - Kampi - After lunch we head across to the Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Centre. Learn about the Dolphins - approx 15-20 min visit |
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| 2.45pm | The recommended time to see the Dolphins is around 3pm. We board a boat and head out to the Dolphin pool. Our driver will follow the strict rules set out to ensure the protection of the endangered Dolphins. At all times you must follow the driver and guides instructions. |
| Sunset | We head to the Island of Koh Trong and spend the evening relaxing. |
| 4.50am | Sunrise cycle |
| Exploring the Vietnamese Floating Village
On the South West corner of the island sits the Vietnamese fishing village. The Vietnamese and Cambodian communities both live on the island but tend not to mix too much. The village is an ideal place to explore and boasts the best coffee on the island. In the dry season the community is set to the banks of the river, but in the wet is surrounded by water, accessed either by boat or simple wooden gangways.
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| Breakfast | We have breakfast and check out of the hotel |
| 9am | The morning provides a second opportunity to see the Dolphins at the recommended time of 9am. If we were lucky the day before then you have the option of a second chance, or some time to explore Kratie town. |
| 11am |
We purchase a picnic lunch and commence the return journey to Siem Reap - estimated arrival 3.30pm |
Code of Conduct for Visiting Irrawaddy Dolphins
In no way must out visit interfere or upset the Dolphins in anyway. Please ensure you respect these amazing animals and behave in a way that ensures their future survival.
Documented Code
1. Boats must be fitted with propeller guards
2. Boats must stop upstream and float down to the dolphins
3. Never drive head on to the dolphin group, separate them or scare them
4. Never turn on the boat motor within 500m of the Dolphins
5. Keep the river free of rubbish and contaminants
This overnight package is based on one nights accommodation at Sala Koh Trong
Please contact us for pricing for this package.
Please email us for information on this trip.