The best time to visit Kratie is during the dry season, from November to April. The weather is cooler, the roads are passable, and the river is at its lowest — which actually concentrates the Irrawaddy dolphins into the deeper pools at Kampi, making sightings more reliable.
Avoid the peak of the wet season (July to October) if possible. The roads can flood, the Mekong rises dramatically, and the dolphins disperse over a wider area of river. However, the lush green landscape has its own appeal in the wet season, and Koh Trong island in the river can be flooded in a picturesque way. February and March are the hottest months — temperatures can reach 38°C — but the dry conditions make travel straightforward.