A strange sandstorm cloaks Gerudo Desert, hiding a merchant’s fate beneath its swirling dunes. To solve the mystery of “Lost in the Dunes,” Link must brave treacherous winds, trace vanishing footsteps, and uncover what lies buried beneath the sands.
One of them involve a squad who is looking for a missing party. Rumors have it that he’s last been seen close to a sinkhole west of the bazaar. If you’re wondering where to find Ponthos in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or you’re curious about the reward for doing so, you can find the “Lost in the Dunes” quest steps below.
‘Lost in the Dunes’ quest steps
Link begins the “Lost in the Dunes” quest by speaking to an NPC near the Kara Kara Bazaar, who mentions something buried beneath the sands. Following the trail of markers into the desert, he must locate several half-buried relics while avoiding sandstorms and sinkholes. Solving the riddle on a weathered tablet reveals the entrance to a hidden chamber. Inside, Link needs to use his abilities to clear the way and recover a lost artifact, completing the quest once he returns it to its original owner.
There’s one main part to “Lost in the Dunes” – basically, you’ll need to track down Ponthos, who is a lost backpacker.
How to start the ‘Lost in the Dunes’ quest
To begin the “Lost in the Dunes” quest in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, travel to Kara Kara Bazaar in the Gerudo Desert and talk to a traveler who mentions a missing person. After hearing their story, head southwest toward the desert area marked by unusual sandstorms. Once you reach the site, you’ll find clues scattered among half-buried ruins that will lead you deeper into the quest’s events.
After you’re done with the Lightning Temple, new quests will become available around Gerudo Town, and elsewhere. Head over to Kara Kara Bazaar, which is west of Gerudo Town, and talk to the travelers at the coordinates (-3275, -2580, 0023).
Benja will tell you about Ponthos, the missing member of the caravan squad. The only clue they have is that Ponthos ran west, and that he likely fell into a sinkhole.
Where to find Ponthos location in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Travel southwest from Kara Kara Bazaar in the Gerudo Desert to coordinates approximately -3357, -2678, 0028, where a prominent sinkhole awaits near a tall rock pillar and campfire. Jump into the sinkhole to descend safely into the Oasis Source cave below. Proceed forward along the path to locate Ponthos sitting at around -3337, -2677, 0005.
From your current location, you have to travel southwest to a sinkhole. The sinkhole is actually marked on the map if you zoom in, right next to a rock-shaped structure, east of the Desert Rift. The exact coordinates are (-3353, -2682, 0026), in case they help.
I recommend taking a few splash fruits with you, as you’ll be cruising through unbearable heat to get to the destination. All in all, though, it’s not a long trip by any means. As you approach the spot, you’ll notice a large pillar (the rock-shaped thing you can see on the map) as well as a campfire.
Head into the sinkhole, and you’ll end up in the Oasis Source. Lo and behold, there’s Ponthos.
Ponthos mentions that he’s yet to find an exit. Don’t fret, as it’s fairly straightforward, albeit a bit annoying. Follow the water current to the left of where Ponthos is sitting to stumble upon a rock wall. Bomb flowers are the best tool for the job here, which are commonly found inside caves. In addition, Fusing any weapons with rocks nearby will also help.
After the first rock wall, you’ll end up in a corridor with two more – the one on the left is grey, and the one on the right is blue. Break the one on the left.
Onto a larger room now with even more walls to tear down. There are a few Stone Pebblits here, which are kinda annoying but not particularly tough, so you can get around them if you don’t want to fight.
The next wall you want to explode is the blue one that’s closer to the ground, and has a fairly narrow shape. If you’re using bomb flowers, it might need two instead of one. Then, head inside and follow that corridor until you see a ladder. Ponthos will shout “No way!” and yeah, man, way – we’ve secured a way out.
Head back to Ponthos
After locating the missing supplies and gathering the information you need, return to Ponthos at the Kara Kara Bazaar. Speak with him to report your findings and complete the quest objectives. He’ll express his relief at your safe return and hand over your reward, marking the end of the “Lost in the Dunes” side quest.
Turns out the ladder leads to the Kara Kara Bazaar Well, which is perfect, as Ponthos is waiting at the surface. Once you’re back at the bazaar, chat with him to finish the quest.
‘Lost in the Dunes’ reward
Completing the “Lost in the Dunes” side quest rewards you with a Mighty Zonaite Shield, a valuable piece of equipment that boosts your defense and energy efficiency when fused with Zonai technology. You’ll also receive rupees and a slight increase in your relationship with the Gerudo after helping solve the mystery in the desert. These rewards make the challenge worthwhile, especially for players focusing on durability and combat versatility.
The reward is… a strange orb? Turns out that somebody at Gerudo Town is looking for it. The orb is an stelae – it’ll be of interest for Rotana, a Gerudo woman inside the Gerudo Shelter in the town at the coordinates (-3888, -2969, 0033).
Where exactly is the Oasis Source sinkhole coordinate
The Oasis Source sinkhole for the “Lost in the Dunes” side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is located just west-southwest of Kara Kara Bazaar in the Gerudo Desert.
Exact Coordinates
The precise coordinates of the sinkhole entrance are approximately (-3357, -2678, 0028), near a tall rock pillar and campfire. Slight variations appear across guides, such as (-3353, -2682, 0026) or (-3355, -2695, 0025), but all point to the same swirling sand pit east of the Desert Rift.
How to Locate It
Exit Kara Kara Bazaar through the west gate, turn slightly left (south), and head toward the prominent rock formation; the sinkhole sits directly beside it with nearby items like a Traveler’s Shield. Jumping in leads straight to Ponthos in the Oasis Source cave below.
How to fast travel to Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower
Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower serves as a key fast travel point in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, located southwest of the Great Plateau in the Gerudo region.
Exact Location
The tower sits at coordinates (-2438, -2182, 1370) atop a high mesa overlooking Gerudo Canyon. It’s visible along the road from Hyrule Field to Gerudo Desert, near (-2432, -2178, 0307) at its base.
Activation for Fast Travel
Approach from below to meet NPC Sawson on a stuck elevator; climb ladders or scaffolds to the tower entrance, then use Ultrahand to attach 2-3 nearby metal crates to the pulley weight, lifting him up to activate it. Once unlocked, select it from the map or Purah Pad for instant fast travel, enabling sky launches to reveal the regional map.
Travel Tips
From Kara Kara Bazaar (near the prior Oasis Source sinkhole at -3357, -2678, 0028), head northeast across the desert or use a nearby stable like Outskirt Stable as a stepping stone. Paragliding from Hyrule Field Skyview Tower can shortcut the approach.
