Stand at the edge of the Gerudo Desert, look up at the snowy peaks to the north and west, and you are looking at the Gerudo Highlands: one of the coldest, steepest and most rewarding corners of Breath of the Wild. It hides a Yiga base, a White-Maned Lynel, a giant statue with a story and a handful of shrines.
Here’s how to survive it. This guide covers cold protection, the shrines around Gerudo Tower, the big landmarks and the dangers worth avoiding until you are ready.
Gerudo Highlands at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Where | The mountains wrapping the north and west of the Gerudo Desert |
| Tower | Gerudo Tower |
| Climate | Cold; the central Highlands need level 2 cold resistance day and night |
| Key landmarks | Gerudo Summit, Statue of the Eighth Heroine, Yiga Clan Hideout in Karusa Valley, Mount Agaat |
| Biggest threat | A White-Maned Lynel on Gerudo Summit |
| Fast travel helpers | Gerudo Tower, Kema Kosassa Shrine, Sho Dantu Shrine |
Gear Up for the Cold
Pack heat before anything else. Your hearts drain fast up here without protection, and the center of the Highlands needs level 2 cold resistance around the clock.
- Armor: the Snowquill set from Rito Village is the classic answer. The Warm Doublet gives one level and is cheap early.
- Ruby Circlet: sold at the Starlight Memories jewelry shop in Gerudo Town, it adds cold resistance and pairs well with other gear.
- Food and elixirs: Spicy Elixirs and Spicy Pepper dishes fill the gap. (Pro tip: cook a few before you leave the desert so you are not scrambling in a blizzard.) Our Breath of the Wild recipe guide has the best warming dishes.
- Snow Boots: optional, but they keep your sprint speed up in deep snow.
Shrines Around Gerudo Tower
Six shrines are grouped with the Gerudo Tower region. Three of them need extra work to reveal.
| Shrine | Where | How it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Kema Kosassa | Foot of Mount Agaat, western Highlands | Visible |
| Kuh Takkar | Foot of Laparoh Mesa Peak, east of the Highlands entrance | Visible |
| Sho Dantu | Karusa Valley, on the way to the Yiga hideout | Place a Luminous Stone on the pedestal |
| Sasa Kai | Beside Gerudo Tower | Shrine Quest: Sign of the Shadow |
| Keeha Yoog | Northeast of Gerudo Summit | Shrine Quest: Cliffside Etchings |
| Joloo Nah | Near Mount Nabooru, at the desert’s edge | Shrine Quest: Test of Will |
The Three Shrine Quests
- Sign of the Shadow: Kass starts it at Gerudo Tower. Stand on the nearby pedestal in the afternoon and shoot an arrow at the sun when it lines up with the tower to reveal Sasa Kai.
- Cliffside Etchings: talk to Geggle on the ridge just south of the Tabantha Bridge Stable (during the day) for the clue that leads to Keeha Yoog.
- Test of Will: the Gorons near Mount Nabooru challenge you to a heat endurance contest. You need heat resistance, and for the second round no heat armor, so bring a Fireproof Elixir.
Sho Dantu is a nice one to grab early. There are not many warp points near the Yiga Clan Hideout, so a shrine on the road there saves you a lot of walking.
Landmarks Worth the Climb
Yiga Clan Hideout
Hidden at the end of Karusa Valley, the Yiga have taken over an old Gerudo temple. You come here during the Divine Beast Vah Naboris quest to steal back Riju’s Thunder Helm. Inside, Blademasters patrol the halls, and a direct hit from one is instant death, so this is a stealth run, not a brawl.
Statue of the Eighth Heroine
This huge Gerudo statue stands on the northwest side of the Highlands. Bozai, a Hylian trader in the desert who wants a look at the statue, sends you here in the side quest The Eighth Heroine: photograph the statue’s upper half and bring it back to him for Sand Boots. Oh, and the statue’s missing sword ties into a follow-up, The Forgotten Sword, which points you up to Gerudo Summit.
Gerudo Summit
The top of the Highlands is bitterly cold and surrounded by steep cliffs. The easiest way up is the gentler slope on the southwest side. At the center, a White-Maned Lynel patrols, so do not wander in with three hearts and a Traveler’s Sword.
Survival Tips
- Scout first: glide in from Gerudo Tower and look before you land. Lynels are much easier to avoid than to escape.
- Weather matters: snow and rain are common up here, which makes climbing slippery. Wait it out at a fire or take the long way.
- Watch for Taluses: odd-looking rock piles sometimes stand up. Bring a hammer or bombs.
- Ranged first: arrows and bombs save your melee weapons for the fights that matter.
- Use the map: whiteouts get disorienting. The Breath of the Wild interactive map keeps the shrines and landmarks straight.
If you are coming back to Hyrule on new hardware, here is what the Zelda Switch 2 updates change. And if you are wondering which Zelda to replay first, see our take on BotW or TotK.
Gerudo Highlands FAQ
How much cold resistance do you need in the Gerudo Highlands?
Level 2 for the central Highlands, day and night. The Snowquill set, a Spicy Elixir or a mix of the Warm Doublet and Ruby Circlet will get you there.
How many shrines are in the Gerudo Highlands?
Six are grouped with the Gerudo Tower region: Kema Kosassa, Kuh Takkar, Sho Dantu, Sasa Kai, Keeha Yoog and Joloo Nah.
Where is the Yiga Clan Hideout?
At the end of Karusa Valley in the Gerudo Highlands. You visit it during the Divine Beast Vah Naboris quest.
Is there a Lynel in the Gerudo Highlands?
Yes. A White-Maned Lynel patrols the center of Gerudo Summit.
Pro Tip: treat the Highlands as a place you prepare for, not stumble into. Cook warm food, grab the tower and Sho Dantu, then pick off the shrines one ridge at a time. You’re winning once you stop shivering.
