Kratie Cambodia
Cambodia
Frequently Asked Questions
On the Mekong bank, facing the town esplanade. The covered market and the arcaded French-era trading houses are a few minutes' walk away.
Yes, at Kampi about fifteen kilometres upstream, home to one of the last populations of Irrawaddy dolphins. Motorboats approach a deep pool then cut the engine; the waiting is part of the experience and nothing is guaranteed.
Only a few dozen. The species remains endangered, approach rules are strict, and respecting them is part of the outing.
By tuk-tuk or excursion minibus: allow twenty to thirty minutes each way. Most programmes add a stop at the Phnom Sombok temple along the road.
Dolphin watching at Kampi fills the morning, with a stop at Phnom Sombok on the way. If time remains, a local boat across to Koh Trong island rounds out the day perfectly.
A track that circles the island past pomelo trees, vegetable plots and stilt houses, walked or cycled. At the southern tip a sandbank emerges in the dry season. A local boat from the pier is all it takes to cross.
The dry season, November to April: the river is lower and calmer, which markedly improves dolphin viewing and uncovers the sandbanks.
Both Cambodian riel and US dollars circulate. Keep small bills for the market, the tuk-tuks and the boat to Koh Trong; cards are of virtually no use.
Hat, water and sun protection: shade is scarce on the river and the Phnom Sombok staircase climbs under patchy cover. Comfortable walking shoes are enough, there is no difficult terrain.
Krolan, sticky rice with beans cooked inside a length of bamboo, is the province's specialty and is sold at the roadside. The covered market also has noodles and fruit, with no staging for visitors.
