Hello, my name is Olivier, and I traveled to Cambodia with my family. Our 3-day trip to Kratie has just ended, leaving us with many unforgettable experiences. If you are looking for a peaceful destination away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, I highly recommend visiting Kratie. I am sure that the exciting outdoor activities in my 3-day Kratie itinerary will not disappoint you—experiences that I will share in detail in this article.
Traveling to Cambodia for vacation, my family and I decided to visit Kratie province after our stay in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Unlike these two major cities, Kratie has a simple and rustic charm, with a slower pace of life that gave us a sense of relaxation and peace. The culture and architecture here reflect the rich Khmer traditions, making this 3-day trip to Kratie a great opportunity for us to learn more about Khmer culture, traditions, and daily life.
Kratie Cambodia is home to many impressive religious structures, making it an ideal choice for those who enjoy spiritual experiences. Some of the top places to visit in Kratie include the 100-Pillar Pagoda, Phnom Sambok Pagoda, and Rokar Kandal Pagoda. With deep historical and cultural significance, these places are truly worth visiting.
If you are wondering what to do in Kratie when traveling with children, don’t worry. Besides its religious sites, our Kratie 3-day itinerary also offers many fun outdoor activities for both adults and kids. One of the best things to do in Kratie is dolphin watching. Additionally, I took my children to Koh Trong Island, where they could run freely, ride bicycles through rice fields, explore gardens, and experience picking fresh fruits right from the trees.
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What to do in Kratie on our first day in Kratie, my family had a relaxing and peaceful experience. After a long journey from Phnom Penh, we arrived in Kratie around noon, checked into a riverside hotel, and enjoyed a lunch featuring traditional Khmer dishes.
In the afternoon of our first day of 3-day itinerary in Kratie, we strolled around the town center and visited Wat Roka Kandal, an ancient temple on the banks of the Mekong River that reflects Khmer cultural heritage. Since the temple was only a few minutes’ walk from our hotel, we decided to explore the surrounding area, visit the temple, and enjoy the breathtaking sunset over the Mekong - one of the best things to do in Kratie. The pace of life here was slow and peaceful, completely different from big cities and popular tourist destinations in Cambodia like Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.
During our Kratie 3-day trip, we also rented motorbikes to get around Kratie and explore the city. Luckily, we had already learned how to ride them, as scooters are very common in Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. A scooter ride around Kratie not only allowed us to discover breathtaking rural landscapes of villages, rice paddies, and green hills but also to explore the cultural richness of Kratie Province. We visited local markets, chatted with locals, and had dinner at a casual street food restaurant by the river.
On our second day in Kratie, we started our journey with a trip to the 100-Pillar Pagoda in Sambor—one of top places to visit in Kratie. After nearly an hour of travel, we arrived and were impressed by the temple’s ancient architecture and serene atmosphere. Our children enjoyed listening to historical stories from the guide, while my wife took the opportunity to capture some beautiful photos. On the way back, we stopped at the local market in Sambor, where our kids curiously explored the colorful stalls, and I bought some fresh fruit to take with us.
In the afternoon, we headed to Kampi Village, excited to see the Irrawaddy dolphins. It was actually one of the most unforgettable memories during our 3 days in Kratie. Our children were thrilled to witness the dolphins jumping out of the water and playing, an experience very different from visiting an aquarium. After that, we continued our journey with a Mekong River cruise, enjoying the peaceful scenery of the river—one of the top things to do in Kratie.
Our final stop was Kampi Rapids, a stunning rocky river area. Since the weather was quite hot during our itinerary 3 days in Kratie, I decided to take a swim in the river while my wife and kids sat by the shore, dipping their feet in the water and enjoying local snacks and refreshing drinks. This is an ideal destination if you want to relax and unwind. Many locals, both men and women, were sitting by the river, drinking beer, and chatting. As the sun began to set, we left Kampi and returned to Kratie town, ending a memorable day filled with experiences.
On our third day of our trip to Kratie in 3 days, our family woke up early to prepare for our trip to Koh Trong, a peaceful island in the middle of the Mekong River. After breakfast at the hotel, we took a ferry to the island, a short 10-minute ride. Once we arrived, we rented bicycles to explore the tree-lined paths, passing through traditional Khmer villages and lush green rice fields. Our children were delighted by the warm smiles of the locals who greeted us along the way.
What to do in Kratie in 3 days? During our ride, we stopped at an ancient Bodhi tree, a spiritual symbol of the island. We listened to the fascinating local stories about the tree, shared by residents. Next, we visited a traditional house, where we got to experience a day as gardeners - one of the most interesting things to do Kratie, learning about the different fruit trees on the island and picking fresh fruit with our own hands. Our kids were especially excited to harvest and taste the fresh fruits they had just picked.
For lunch, we dined at a homestay on the island, enjoying traditional Khmer dishes. After a short rest, we took the ferry back to Kratie and spent our last moments at a riverside café before heading home. Our whole family felt that this Kratie 3-day trip was truly rewarding—it was both relaxing and educational, allowing us to learn more about the culture and daily life along the Mekong River.
If you travel to Kratie in 3 days, you can notice some advices for the best Cambodia trip
Bring cash, as some market stalls and remote areas may not accept credit cards or digital payments. It’s best to be prepared to avoid any inconvenience.
Cambodia has a tropical climate, so the weather in Kratie during our trip was quite warm. You don’t need to pack too many clothes, but bringing an extra set for outdoor activities like swimming in the river or exploring the island is a good idea. If you plan to visit temples like we did, make sure to wear modest clothing out of respect for the sacred sites.
How to get around in Kratie? If you’re not comfortable riding a motorbike, don’t worry—you can rent a private car, take a taxi, or use a tuk-tuk for easier sightseeing.
Our 3-day trip to Kratie ended with a sense of longing, especially for our kids, who wished they could watch the dolphins a little longer. This trip was a perfect way for our family to relax and unwind after the hustle and bustle of big city life. This itinerary wasn’t just about spiritual experiences—it also gave us exciting outdoor activities, exactly what we were looking for in a well-rounded trip. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Autour Asia travel consultancy team for their great ideas and detailed recommendations, which made our journey so enjoyable.
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