Quick Answer: Make your way to Bahari Bay and locate the ancient door in quadrant B2 to enter the Elderwood. From there, head west to the De Mer Dock and board the boat to sail directly to the Royal Highlands.
Palia is all about cozy vibes and taking things at your own pace. You can spend hours just decorating your plot or fishing with friends. But when a massive map update drops, that laid-back energy usually shifts into pure exploration mode.
The Royal Highlands is the largest zone added to the game so far. It brings fresh campsites, sprawling landscapes, and an entirely new mount system to speed up your adventures. Getting there, however, requires a bit of a trek.
Choosing Your Path to the Highlands
The game actually offers two ways to access this massive new continent. If you are totally caught up on the main storyline, the game will naturally point you toward the correct docks. You even get to make the crossing alongside a crew of familiar NPCs.
Newer players do not have to wait, though. You can completely bypass the story requirements and head straight there. Just a heads up: skipping ahead means you might run into some minor story spoilers. If you just want to grab a mount and dip out, make it a quick trip. Speaking of mounts, grabbing one will save you hours of running around. Read our full breakdown on unlocking and breeding horses right here so you are fully prepared the second your boots hit the ground.
The Step by Step Route
If you are ready to make the journey, here is exactly where you need to go.
- Step 1: Fast travel or walk over to Bahari Bay.
- Step 2: Open your map and pinpoint quadrant B2. You are looking for a massive ancient door.
- Step 3: Walk right through the gateway to load into the Elderwood region.
Once you spawn into the Elderwood, you need to find a ride across the water. Here is a quick reference table for the final leg of the journey:
| Location | Action Required |
| Western Coast | Navigate toward the western edge of the Elderwood map. |
| De Mer Dock | Look for the wooden platform stretching out over the water. |
| The Boat | Board the vessel docked at the end of the platform. A brief cutscene will trigger, and you will arrive in the new zone. |
Secure Your Fast Travel Node
When you finally arrive after the boat ride, resist the urge to immediately sprint off into the wilderness. You need to secure a fast travel point unless you want to repeat that entire commute tomorrow.
Follow the main dirt path leading away from the docks and push past the area known as the Lonely Glen. Keep your eyes peeled for the Royal Highlands Stable fast travel board. Interact with it immediately. Now you can zip back and forth from the mainland whenever you want without having to bother with the boat ride.
