Irrawaddy Dolphins Spotting, Kratie Overview

Irrawaddy Dolphins inhabit the Mekong river plain that stretches for about 400 miles between Cambodia and Laos, including the towns of Kratie and Kampi. These rare, unique dolphins are an endangered species found in small populations. Watching these dolphins is one of the top attractions for people visiting Kratie.

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Irrawaddy Dolphins Spotting Tours

The dolphin tours are boat trips that take you through the Mekong to get up close to the dolphins who swim to the surface. The boat trip passes through dense mangrove forests and surrounding villages. There are also Kayaking tours, where you can kayak close to the dolphins. Efforts are taken by the tour owners not to disturb the habitats of dolphins. Hence they turn off the engine and prevent getting too close. Also, no feeding is allowed.

Ticket details

A short boat trip costs about 9 USD per person for one.

Best time to visit

Plan your trip in the early morning or late afternoon as the weather is ideal for spotting dolphins during these times.

How To Reach Irrawaddy Dolphins Spotting

You can take the tours at Kampi for the best experience of the Dolphin tours. Located about 15 km from Kraties, you can reach there by Tuk-Tuk which costs about 10 USD per person for a return trip. From there you can directly take boat tours, or you can pre-book them at your hotels or through travel agents, where they also offer free pickup from your accommodation.