 |
| Home » Cambodia » Travel Guide »
Kratie
|
 Print |
| DESTINATION CAMBODIA |
 |
KRATIE
GUIDE |
|
|
|
KRATIE PHOTOS |
| |
KRATIE MAP |
| |
KRATIE TOURS |
| |
KRATIE HOTELS |
|
|
|
|
| |
 ATRACTIONS IN
KRATIE |
|
|
|
|
| HIGHLIGHTS IN
KRATIE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| QUICK GUIDANCE |
| The breathtaking landscapes, beautiful coastlines, cultural delights and historical significance, make Cambodia an enjoyable stop in Asia travel map. To help you plan a trip in Kratie - Cambodia, we provide the useful guide of hotel options, package tours, transport, attractions, shopping and entertainment. You just click the sections below for helpful information. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KRATIE PROVINCE OVERVIEW |
| Geography |
Demographics |
Telephone |
Capital: Kratie
Location: Eastern
Area: 11,094 km2
|
Population: 263,175
Density: 23.7 /km2
|
Calling code |
| Town and Districts |
| Chhloung , Kracheh , Preaek Prasab , Sambour , Snuol |
|
| General Information
|
Kratie is a heavily forested province spanning the Mekong River, whose banks are home to most of the province population. Beyond the mighty river, it is a remote and wild area that has seen few outsiders. This was one of the first areas to fall to Khmer Rouge control in the civil war, although for several year it was in fact the Vietnamese communists running the show. The port of Chhlong in southwest Kratie somehow held out against the surrounding communists until 1975, probably a useful way for the Khmer Rouge to acquire arms from Lon Nol military. It was also one of the first provincial capitals to fall to the liberating Vietnamese forces in the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge on 30 December 1978.
Most visitors focus on the rare freshwater dolphins found 15km north of the provincial capital, and for good reason, as other attractions are thin on the ground. However, the town of Kratie is a charming little place and makes a good base to check out the surrounding countryside. Getting about is generally easier by boat than by road, as most roads in the province are pretty horrible. Currently, the appalling NH7, running right through the center of Kratie, is being entirely reconstructed; this is very good news for anyone who remembers the old road. The long haul north to Stung Treng is still not earmarked for overhaul and remains a truly nasty piece of work. The major highway from Chhlong to Snuol and on to Mondulkiri Province is in fairly good condition though.
|
|
|
| |
|
KRATIE PROVINCE PEOPLE |
| |
| |
|
GETTING IN - OUT
KRATIE PROVINCE |
*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. From Kampong Cham to Kratie, the bullet boat takes about three hours. 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. 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.
* The route Phnom Penh to Kratie: If you are going to Kratie from Phnom Penh, the road to Kampong Cham is excellent, the road from Kampong Cham to the Snoul junction isn't that great, but it's definitely doable. The last section taking you to Kratie from Snoul has some huge bomb craters that fill up and look like lakes during the rainy season, but it's also doable, you're just going to get wet.
* The route Snoul to Mondulkiri :If you are heading to Sen Monorom from Kratie, proceed to Snoul and pass through the main town area. You will come to a fork in the road where you stay to the left. Follow this about 7 km and you will come to a four-way junction where you turn left. This newly cut dirt highway takes you to Sen Monorom. The road is nice and level having been cut by logging companies for their trucks. The fuel and food are available in Snoul town and at the four-way junction. Security on these stretches is not a problem.
* The route Kratie to Stung Treng: The road goes from asphalt to shredded tarmac to dirt. There are scattered bomb craters, but the road is not nearly as bad as some. The trip is 142 km and took around four hours during the rainy season.
|
| |
|
GETTING AROUND
KRATIE PROVINCE |
|
The best way to travel around is by motor or car. There is also motor rental with or without driver at some guest houses and should also be able to set visitor up a with a bicycle. |
| |
|
KRATIE PROVINCE RESOURCES |
|
|
| |
|
TRAVEL TIPS |
Money
There are no banks in town so carry cash. Telephone services are available at kiosks around the market, but there is no internet access as yet. There is a tourist office by the river in the south of town, but for general information on getting around the province, the Star Guesthouse is hard to beat. For a humorous look at Kratie up close and personal, pick up a copy of Plumbing the Depths of Kratie
|
| |
|
KRATIE PROVINCE ECONOMY |
|
|
| |
|
 |
