Irrawaddy Dolphin Tours in Kratie – Mekong River Boat Trips

Everything You Need to Know About Dolphin Watching in Kratie

About the Irrawaddy Dolphins

Irrawaddy dolphins are freshwater dolphins found in a few river systems across South and Southeast Asia. The Mekong population is the most studied and arguably the most threatened, with an estimated 89 individuals remaining as of the latest surveys. They live in deep-water pools where the river bottom drops to 15–20 meters. Conservation efforts led by WWF and the Cambodian Fisheries Administration have banned gill nets in dolphin zones and created community-based protection programs. Tourist boat fees contribute directly to these efforts.

When to Visit

Dry season (November to May) concentrates the dolphins in known pools and makes sightings very reliable — close to 95% success. Late afternoon is the most active period. Wet season visits are possible but the dolphins scatter across a wider area as river levels rise, and kayaking isn’t available due to strong currents. The river is beautiful year-round, but for dolphins specifically, come in dry season.

Tour Options

Half-day trips (3–4 hours) go straight to the dolphin pool and back. Full-day tours add kayaking, a visit to Koh Trong island, and a riverside lunch. The overnight option puts you in a family homestay on a Mekong island — you’ll eat dinner with a fishing family, watch the sunset from the water, and do a sunrise dolphin session the next morning before returning to Kratie.

Getting to Kratie

Kratie sits on the main north-south highway, roughly 315 km from Phnom Penh (5–6 hours by bus). It’s a natural stopover between Phnom Penh and the northeast (Stung Treng, Ratanakiri). Daily buses in both directions. We include Kratie in most of our multi-day Cambodia tour packages.