Planning A Visit To Koh Trong From Kratie

If you are an independent traveller a visit to Koh Trong can seem like a bit of a guessing game. This can lead to a fun day of discovery and path finding but it can also leave you missing out on some of the Islands highlights. The Island itself is part of the Mekong Discovery Trail a network of maps designed to promote ecotourism opportunities in North East Cambodia. You can view the Koh Trong trail map here on the Cambodian Rural Development Tours website.

http://www.crdtours.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/7735628-Koh_Trong_Trail.pdf

If you find the map useful I would make sure you have it on your phone as the printed version on the Island has long since faded away. The general information is useful but don't expect to find many signs on Island (this is something David will be working on soon). The ferry to the island is easy enough to find next to the Jasmine Boat restaurant in Kratie town. You can even drag a bicycle down the steps onto the ferry for a small additional fee of 500 Riel however I would recommend that you hire one when you arrive. In the last few days a helpful individual has even translated the ferry fees into English so it is difficult to go wrong at this stage. Do remember to please mind your head on the boat as you take your seat and just hand your money (1000 Riel) to the boat operator before you disembark.

You have arrived on the Island, watched the locals skilfully unload and load everything and anything onto their Honda Dream motorbikes and shoot off across the sand. At this point I should say if you would like a lift yourself they will happily oblige for just 1$.

The island is small just 9km around and you have plenty of options for transport when you arrive.

Take the advice from the map and visit the Island in the early morning if you can. Lunch time is early here and most families gather at 11.30am to eat. Hiring transport at lunchtime, in particular horse and ox carts, is not impossible but it will be more difficult as many people take a rest following lunch. The roosters on the Island ensure that mornings start really early here and 4am is a perfectly normal time to begin the working day. Having said this you will be able to find someone near the information centre who will be able to hire you a bicycle for 1-2$.

As you make your way around the island take your time and enjoy the relaxed pace of life, there are plenty of places that you can stop in the shade and buy refreshments. Stopping to buy an iced drink or even a sweet dessert will give you the perfect opportunity to support the local economy, practice some Khmer and meet the friendly families living on the island.