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Locationmajor

Akkala Highlands

The Akkala Highlands are the northern half of mainland Akkala’s rugged central uplands.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • Tarrey Town is the region’s main settlement and service hub It provides shops, beds, a dye shop, construction-related activities and access to Link’s house.
  • Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower is the most useful first objective It reveals much of the surrounding Surface map and sits close to the road network leading towards Tarrey Town and Akkala Citadel.
  • Akkala Citadel Ruins are a major combat and exploration site Expect strong monsters, vertical ruins, caves, Korok puzzles and valuable equipment.
  • The Highlands contain several separate underground entrances These include East Akkala Plains Chasm, South Akkala Plains Chasm, the Tarrey Town Tunnel and caves beneath the citadel. Do not treat the surface region as complete after finding one chasm.
  • Six Surface Shrines are normally associated with this regional map area Gemimik, Domizuin, Sinatanika, Rasitakiwak, Jochi-ihiga and Gatanisis. Regional guide boundaries can differ from the game’s broader map categories, so nearby shrines may be filed under Deep Akkala or another Akkala subregion by different sources.
  • The region’s most important progression content is optional rather than a main-story dungeon. Its major rewards come from exploration, side adventures, shrine quests, Tarrey Town activities, cave treasure and the Depths.

About this guide

Scope: Surface Akkala Highlands in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This guide treats the Highlands as the broad named region around Tarrey Town, Ulri Mountain, Akkala Citadel and the southern and western shores of Lake Akkala. It does not fold in Deep Akkala, the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, Skull Lake, Lomei Labyrinth Island, the Akkala Sea islands or the Akkala Sky Archipelago, even though several of those places are nearby or administratively grouped under wider Akkala. Spoiler warning: The guide discusses regional quests, the Upheaval, the Depths, Tarrey Town’s story, enemy camps and several rewards.

Overview

The Akkala Highlands are the northern half of mainland Akkala’s rugged central uplands. They form a broad transition zone between Eldin’s volcanic country to the west, the Lanayru side of Hyrule to the south and east, and the more isolated coastal territory of Deep Akkala to the north-east. The region is defined less by one single landmark than by a chain of connected places: Tarrey Town and the Hudson Construction Site in the south, Ulri Mountain and the Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower in the west, Akkala Citadel Ruins in the centre, and Lake Akkala and its surrounding cliffs to the east.

The region is easy to underestimate. Tarrey Town is peaceful and highly developed, but much of the surrounding landscape is made up of steep ravines, monster-held ruins, deep water and exposed high ground. Akkala Citadel is one of the game’s most important ruin sites, while the roads around it lead towards several stables, shrines, caves and chasms. The Highlands also provide one of the game’s clearest examples of how Tears of the Kingdom develops a location first established in Breath of the Wild: Tarrey Town is no longer a construction project, but the wider area still shows the consequences of Hyrule’s earlier collapse and its continuing reconstruction.

Tarrey Town and southern Akkala

Tarrey Town sits on a raised island or plateau in Lake Akkala’s southern waters. Its bridges and roads make it the region’s main safe base. The settlement is linked by road to Hudson Construction Site, the southern plains and the approaches to Akkala Citadel.

The town’s position is strategically useful. It is close enough to the citadel for exploration, but sheltered from the most dangerous monster concentrations. It is also a good place to cook, sleep, buy supplies and manage Link’s house before setting out.

Hudson Construction Site

The construction site lies south-west of Tarrey Town. It is a working settlement rather than a normal town, with Hudson Construction employees building structures and testing materials. It is important for the Tarrey Town and Link’s house progression, and it has its own cave and underground connections.

The site is also one of the best places to practise Ultrahand construction. Several tasks here make use of vehicles, stabilising platforms and transporting objects across difficult terrain.

Ulri Mountain

Ulri Mountain rises west of Tarrey Town and north-west of Lake Akkala. The mountain is heavily forested and broken by cliffs, making it a useful natural viewpoint but a less convenient walking route than the main roads.

Ulri Mountain is best known for its Skyview Tower. The tower is initially obstructed by a flying enemy, so reaching it is not simply a matter of climbing the tower and activating the console. Once repaired, it provides a launch point and map coverage for much of the surrounding region.

Akkala Citadel Ruins

The citadel occupies a high central position overlooking the surrounding valleys. In Tears of the Kingdom, it remains a large ruined military stronghold, with broken walls, collapsed interiors, towers and multiple vertical routes.

The ruins are not a single enclosed dungeon. They are an open combat area with several elevations. Players can approach from the roads, climb from below, glide in from the Skyview Tower or enter the associated caves. The main ruins contain enemy groups, treasure and Korok-related exploration, while the caves beneath and around them are separate named locations.

Lake Akkala and the eastern valleys

Lake Akkala dominates the eastern half of the region. The lake creates natural barriers around Tarrey Town and the approaches to the citadel. Swimming is possible, but long crossings are inefficient unless Link has suitable stamina, stamina-restoring food or a vehicle.

The eastern valleys connect the Highlands to Deep Akkala and the Akkala Sea. These roads are useful for reaching the East Akkala Stable and northern routes, but they gradually move outside the strict Highlands scope.

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First visit from central Hyrule

The tower’s listed map position is approximately 3497, 2025, 0188. The regional shrine guide places Gemimik Shrine at approximately 4511, 2114, 0001, Domizuin Shrine at 3305, 1443, 0426, Sinatanika Shrine at 3842, 2300, 0048, Rasitakiwak Shrine at 4166, 1323, 0229, Jochi-ihiga Shrine at 3809, 1219, 0090 and Gatanisis Shrine at 4498, 0825, 0095. Coordinates are useful for navigation, but the region contains substantial vertical differences, so the third coordinate matters when searching in caves or the Depths.

A practical first route is

  1. 01
    Travel north-east from Lookout Landing through the central road network.
  2. 02
    Continue towards Eldin or use a Skyview Tower launch to bypass the most awkward ravines.
  3. 03
    Reach the road around Ulri Mountain.
  4. 04
    Activate Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower.
  5. 05
    Glide or travel south-east towards Tarrey Town.
  6. 06
    Use Tarrey Town as a base before exploring Akkala Citadel and Lake Akkala.

From Eldin

The western road from Eldin leads towards the southern and western Akkala approaches. This route is useful if the player has already visited Goron City or the Death Mountain area. Be aware that hot-weather and volcanic hazards belong mainly to Eldin, not to the cooler Highlands proper.

From Lanayru

The southern and south-eastern approaches lead towards Lake Akkala and the wider Lanayru road network. This is a convenient route if the player has come from the Zora region, although the lake and cliffs make direct travel slower than the road.

By air

Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower is the most reliable launch point. From its summit, Link can reach:

A paraglider, stamina upgrades or stamina-restoring meals make this much easier. Do not glide blindly into the lake if the goal is to reach a road or settlement. A fan-powered raft, wing or other vehicle can be more efficient for long crossings.

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By air

Tarrey Town

Tarrey Town is the only substantial settlement within the Highlands. Its population is a mixture of Hylians, Gerudo, Gorons, Zora and Rito, reflecting the town’s history as a deliberately constructed community. The town’s continuing development is a direct continuation of the town-building storyline from Breath of the Wild.

Not every named character is permanently resident or available at all times. Some are visitors, quest participants or characters whose presence changes after a side adventure.

Tarrey Town services

The town’s shops and services are progression-sensitive. Some facilities or inventory options become available only after starting or completing relevant side adventures. A business name should not be treated as proof of a permanent service: check the shopkeeper and current stock in the game.

Important named residents and story-linked figures include

Hudson Construction Site

The construction site is staffed by Hudson Construction workers. It is not a conventional shopping settlement, but it is an important functional location.

The site is also one of the clearest places to see *Tears of the Kingdom*’s central building mechanic represented diegetically. Workers are not merely background decoration: they turn Ultrahand’s construction system into a continuing local activity.

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The following Surface Shrines are listed by regional guides for the Akkala Highlands map area:

The exact classification of nearby shrines varies by guide. For example, Jochi-ihiga is frequently described in relation to Tarrey Town and Lake Akkala, while shrines nearer the far northern or coastal areas may be filed under Deep Akkala or the wider Akkala region. Nintendo Life’s shrine guide specifically links Jochi-ihiga with the “Get Rock for Sale” shrine quest and the Hudson Construction Site area.

Jochi-ihiga Shrine route

The exact vehicle is flexible. A boat or amphibious vehicle is generally safer than trying to carry the crystal by hand over the lake and cliffs.

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The following names are grouped by the researched Highlands scope. Cave, chasm and Depths names are kept distinct from ordinary surface landmarks.

Hudson Construction Site

Hudson Construction Site

ShrineMain challenge or accessWhy it matters
Domizuin ShrinePuzzle involving rotating and repositioning a large structureConvenient for the citadel and central Highlands
Gemimik ShrineTurbine-based puzzleUseful waypoint near the lake and eastern approaches
Gatanisis Shrine“A Well-Timed Bounce” style challengeRegional shrine near the southern or eastern lake approaches
Jochi-ihiga ShrineRauru’s Blessing after a crystal-related objectiveConnected with moving a large crystal from the Tarrey Town area
Rasitakiwak ShrineProving Grounds: VehiclesTests vehicle construction and combat
Sinatanika ShrineCombat Training: SneakstrikeTeaches stealth attacks and is useful for combat practice

Jochi-ihiga Shrine route: A practical route is

  1. 01
    Begin the relevant crystal objective around Tarrey Town.
  2. 02
    Take the crystal towards Hudson Construction Site.
  3. 03
    Build a vehicle suitable for the terrain and water crossing.
  4. 04
    Transport the crystal to the shrine location.
  5. 05
    Enter the shrine for its Rauru’s Blessing reward.

Settlements and developed locations

Towers and checkpoints

The two stables are often treated as part of the wider Akkala region rather than the same strict Highlands subregion. Their inclusion depends on whether the guide follows the game’s regional labels, stable map groupings or geographical boundaries. The Ulri Mountain map grouping used by some shrine references places Tarrey Town, the Akkala Highlands, the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and several stables in one broad regional section, even though those sites belong to distinct local areas.

Towers and checkpoints

Surface caves

Some of these lie close to the Highlands boundary or are commonly grouped under Akkala rather than strictly under the Highlands. In particular, Skull Lake Cave is better treated as a northern Akkala location associated with Deep Akkala and the Skull Lake area. Zelda Dungeon’s Akkala location directory lists these caves independently rather than treating them as interchangeable entrances.

Surface chasms

Only the first two are central to a strict mainland Highlands route. Skull Lake Chasm, Lomei Labyrinth Chasm and Tingel Island Chasm lead into neighbouring or offshore parts of Akkala. They are listed here to prevent confusion when using an Akkala-wide underground checklist.

Shrines

Lightroots connected with the wider Highlands Depths

The following names appear in Akkala underground directories. Their exact positions and regional associations should be checked against the player’s Depths map, because the underground does not follow Surface boundaries perfectly.

Akkala’s Depths are not simply an underground version of the Highlands. Major surface features can correspond to different underground landmarks, and a chasm may place Link far from the nearest Surface location once he reaches the lower map.

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The Highlands’ enemy population changes with story progression and the game’s general enemy scaling. A player returning later may encounter stronger variants than during an initial visit.

Akkala Citadel Ruins are particularly dangerous because enemies occupy multiple elevations. Fighting on the ground can attract archers and aerial attackers from the walls. A safer approach is to:

Do not assume every monster encounter is fixed in the same way. Standard camps, enemy variants and some treasure contents can be affected by progression and scaling. Boss encounters such as Taluses are fixed to their general locations, but their exact type and rewards depend on the encounter.

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Lightroots connected with the wider Highlands Depths

Lightroots connected with the wider Highlands Depths: steps

  1. 01
    Scout from above with the paraglider or a tower launch.
  2. 02
    Mark enemy groups and treasure positions.
  3. 03
    Eliminate archers first.
  4. 04
    Use the ruins’ walls and platforms to separate enemies.
  5. 05
    Search the upper levels after the main group is defeated.
  6. 06
    Check caves separately, since clearing the surface does not clear underground enemies.

Korok Seeds

The Highlands contain Korok puzzles in ruins, on mountain paths, beside roads and around lake islands. Common puzzle types include:

A region guide lists 36 Korok Seeds for the Akkala Highlands area, although totals depend on whether a source includes boundary locations and nearby lake or Deep Akkala placements. Do not use the number as proof that every seed geographically visible from Tarrey Town belongs to the same map region.

Bubbul Gems

Caves in and around the Highlands contain Bubbulfrogs. The most easily overlooked locations are not necessarily the largest caves:

Multiple entrances can make a cave look like two locations, while a small side passage can conceal the actual Bubbulfrog. Use the cave checklist at Koltin’s shop, but verify every entrance on the map. Some caves are frequently missed because the visible entrance is not the one shown by an online guide.

Ore and equipment

The citadel and surrounding cliffs contain ore deposits, weapon pickups and enemy-held chests. The quality of equipment can improve as the game progresses. Pristine weapons are more reliably farmed in the Depths than on the Surface, although the Highlands’ chasms provide convenient access to underground exploration.

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Tarrey Town and construction activities

Tarrey Town is one of the region’s main quest centres. The construction content develops the settlement and opens useful services. Link’s house is a purchasable property rather than a normal public building, and its facilities depend on the player’s construction choices.

Stable activities

Examples of stable activities associated with Akkala include “A Picture for East Akkala Stable”, “A Picture for South Akkala Stable” and “A Picture for Foothill Stable”. Their exact placement depends on the stable’s regional classification.

Addison signs

Hudson Construction signs appear along roads and near settlements. Supporting Addison normally involves building a temporary structure that prevents the sign from falling. The reward is usually a small bundle of supplies, often including rupees and food or materials.

Because signs are placed along roads rather than at one central quest hub, a full Akkala search should include:

Dragon Tears and geoglyphs

Akkala has a notable geoglyph in the northern highlands. Guides commonly identify it as the North Akkala Geoglyph, with a Dragon Tear associated with it. The exact memory order is governed by the wider Dragon’s Tears quest rather than by simply visiting every geoglyph in geographical order.

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For reliable progression

  1. 01
    Begin the geoglyph investigation through Impa.
  2. 02
    Use the Dragon Tear pools rather than only inspecting the large glyph shape.
  3. 03
    Record which memory has been collected.
  4. 04
    Return to the Forgotten Temple or the relevant quest stage when prompted.
  5. 05
    Do not assume the Akkala glyph is available in a preferred story order.

Rain and climbing

Akkala’s highlands can be rainy. Climbing the citadel, Ulri Mountain and the cliffs around Lake Akkala during rain is inefficient and dangerous. Use:

Water crossings

Lake Akkala separates Tarrey Town from several approaches. Swimming can work early in the game, but vehicles are faster and safer. Build with enough buoyancy and avoid placing the crystal or cargo where it can slide into deep water.

Lightning

The exposed ruins and high ridges make thunderstorms hazardous. Put away metal weapons and shields during lightning storms, or use non-metal equipment. This is especially important when gliding above Akkala Citadel, where there may be few safe places to land.

The Depths

Chasms are dangerous even when the Surface nearby looks peaceful. Bring:

The East Akkala Plains and South Akkala Plains chasms are useful entry points, but they do not make the entire Akkala underground visible. Activate Lightroots as soon as practical.

Akkala Citadel’s vertical layout

The citadel’s greatest secret is its structure rather than one single hidden room. Look above and below every broken wall. The ruins support:

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First-time regional tour

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Akkala’s identity is strongly connected with military history and technological research. In Breath of the Wild, the region housed the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and the ruins of Akkala Citadel, suggesting that the north-east was once a defensive frontier. Tears of the Kingdom keeps that history visible but shifts the emphasis towards reconstruction.

Tarrey Town is the clearest continuity point. Its residents have moved from the improvised settlement of Breath of the Wild to a functioning community with mixed-species residents, trade and construction work. The Hudson Construction Site shows that this rebuilding is still active, while Link’s house reflects the player’s ability to continue shaping the world personally.

Akkala Citadel, by contrast, remains a reminder of failure. It is not restored into a functioning fortress. Its broken walls and monster occupation make the location feel like a historical site that has never recovered from Hyrule’s earlier catastrophe.

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First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Activate Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower. Deal with the tower’s obstruction and launch to reveal the map.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Visit Tarrey Town. Speak with the principal residents, check available services and register the town as a fast-travel destination.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Inspect Link’s house and Hudson Construction Site. Start or continue construction-related activities before travelling deeper into the region.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Complete the shrine objective leading to Jochi-ihiga Shrine. Use a vehicle for the crystal route if the terrain or lake makes carrying it impractical.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Explore Akkala Citadel Ruins from above. Mark enemy groups, shrine locations, chests and cave entrances before committing to combat.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Activate Domizuin Shrine and investigate the citadel caves. Keep the summit cave and lower cave separate in your checklist.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Travel around Lake Akkala. Search the roads, bridges, shorelines and small islands for Korok puzzles, signs and ore.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Return to the construction site and Tarrey Town. Recheck residents after completing major side adventures, since new dialogue and services may become available.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Enter a chasm only when prepared. Bring lighting supplies and use the Depths to locate Lightroots, enemy camps and underground treasure.

First-time regional tour: steps

  1. 01
    Finish with a boundary sweep. Check whether your remaining discoveries actually belong to Deep Akkala, the Akkala Sea or Eldin rather than the Highlands.

The region therefore has three overlapping identities

  1. 01
    A defensive frontier, represented by the citadel and military ruins.
  2. 02
    A rebuilding frontier, represented by Tarrey Town and Hudson Construction.
  3. 03
    A gateway to hidden history, represented by caves, chasms, the Depths and nearby Zonai-related discoveries.

Is Tarrey Town inside Akkala Highlands?

Yes, for most regional guides and practical exploration purposes, Tarrey Town is treated as part of the Akkala Highlands. Some broad map systems group it under a larger Ulri Mountain or Akkala category, but it should not be confused with Deep Akkala.

Is the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab in the Highlands?

It is nearby, but it is generally treated as Deep Akkala, not the strict Highlands. Keep it separate in a regional guide.

Are Skull Lake and Lomei Labyrinth part of the Highlands?

They are part of wider Akkala, but not usually part of a narrow mainland Highlands route. Skull Lake belongs with Deep Akkala, while Lomei Labyrinth Island belongs with Akkala’s offshore or northern subareas.

How many shrines are in Akkala Highlands?

Six Surface Shrines are commonly listed for the Highlands regional map grouping: Domizuin, Gemimik, Gatanisis, Jochi-ihiga, Rasitakiwak and Sinatanika. Nearby shrines may be classified under Deep Akkala or another Akkala subregion by a different guide.

What should I do first?

Activate Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower, then use Tarrey Town as your base. This gives you map coverage, fast travel, supplies and access to construction-related activities before you tackle the citadel.

Can I buy Link’s house in Tarrey Town?

Yes. Link’s house is a purchasable property connected with the Tarrey Town and Hudson Construction content. It is not a generic inn or public building, and its final facilities depend on the construction options you choose.

Is Akkala Citadel a dungeon?

No. It is an open ruin complex rather than a traditional dungeon. It contains enemies, treasure, vertical exploration, Korok puzzles and cave entrances, but it does not have a dungeon map, dungeon boss or Sage ability.

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Sources