World & travel

How to Get to Tanaris: the Road to Gadgetzan for Alliance and Horde

Section: World & travel 4 min read Vanilla 1.12.1 · x5 Updated 07.10.2026

How to get to Tanaris and its capital Gadgetzan is a question that comes up around level 40: the desert in south-eastern Kalimdor is the gateway to Zul'Farrak, Un'Goro Crater and Silithus, but the first trip there is always on foot. Below are routes for the Alliance and the Horde, landmarks and flight paths on the WoW x5 server (Vanilla 1.12.1).

Location
LocationSouth-eastern Kalimdor
Tanaris
TanarisLevel 40–50 zone
Contents
  1. Where Tanaris is
  2. How to get there as Alliance
  3. How to get there as Horde
  4. Entrances and what to know
  5. Why go to Tanaris
  6. Related guides

Where Tanaris is

Tanaris is a sandy desert in south-eastern Kalimdor, south of Thousand Needles and east of Un'Goro Crater. The recommended level is 40–50. The zone has only two land neighbours: Thousand Needles to the north and Un'Goro to the west. Tanaris does not border Dustwallow Marsh.

The main town is the neutral goblin Gadgetzan of the Steamwheedle Cartel in the north of the desert: an inn, an auction house, flight masters for both factions and guards who do not tolerate fighting in town. Steamwheedle Port lies on the east coast, and the Zul'Farrak dungeon is in the north-west.

How to get there as Alliance

  1. Reach Thousand Needles. Option one: from Thalanaar on the eastern edge of Feralas walk east into the canyon. Option two: from Theramore or Ratchet head south through the Barrens to the Great Lift, which is guarded by the Horde.
  2. Cross Thousand Needles to the east until you reach the Shimmering Flats with the Mirage Raceway.
  3. Find the mountain pass on the south side of the flats: it leads straight into Tanaris.
  4. Gadgetzan stands right behind the pass. Discover the flight path so you can fly in from Theramore and Thalanaar next time.

How to get there as Horde

  1. Fly to Freewind Post in Thousand Needles. If you do not have it yet, fly to Camp Taurajo, follow the road south and ride the Great Lift down into the canyon.
  2. From Freewind Post walk east to the Shimmering Flats.
  3. Cross the flats to the south and take the mountain pass into Tanaris.
  4. Discover the Gadgetzan flight path: it has direct flights to Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff and the Crossroads.
Совет

Walk the route once and discover the Gadgetzan flight path right away: you will need it for Zul'Farrak, Un'Goro and Silithus. The whole network is in the flight paths guide.

Entrances and what to know

  • The northern entrance is the mountain pass south of the Shimmering Flats. It is the only road into Tanaris for both factions.
  • The western exit is the trail down into Un'Goro, described in how to get to Un'Goro Crater.
  • Dustwallow Marsh: there is no direct road south from the marsh into Tanaris. The Alliance goes from Theramore through the Barrens, or flies once the Gadgetzan flight path is known.
  • Steamwheedle Port in the east is a goblin port with quests, but there are no ships for players from it.
  • The Caverns of Time in the east of the desert are closed to players in 1.12.1.
  • Dangers: players of the opposite faction are common on the Shimmering Flats and near the Tanaris border, and the dunes hold scorpids, hyenas and Sandfury trolls.
RouteAllianceHorde
Nearest flight path before the zoneThalanaar (Feralas) or TheramoreFreewind Post (Thousand Needles)
Way to TanarisThrough Thousand Needles and the Shimmering FlatsThrough the Shimmering Flats
Zone entranceMountain pass south of the flatsMountain pass south of the flats
Flight path in the zoneGadgetzanGadgetzan

The general road map of Kalimdor is in the travel guide.

Why go to Tanaris

Tanaris is one of the main level 40–50 zones:

All town services are listed in the Gadgetzan guide.

Related guides

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FAQ

How do I get to Tanaris for the first time?

On foot through Thousand Needles. Go down into the canyon, travel east to the Shimmering Flats with the race track, then head south through the mountain pass: Gadgetzan stands right behind it. Discover the flight path there and your next visit takes a couple of minutes.

Can I walk to Tanaris from Dustwallow Marsh?

There is no direct road: in 1.12.1 Tanaris only borders Thousand Needles and Un'Goro Crater. From Theramore the Alliance has to go through the Barrens and Thousand Needles, or fly from Theramore to Gadgetzan once the flight path is known.

Does Gadgetzan have a flight path for both factions?

Yes, Gadgetzan has flight masters for both factions. The Alliance flies from there to places such as Theramore and Thalanaar, the Horde to Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, the Crossroads and Freewind Post.

What level is Tanaris?

Tanaris is designed for roughly levels 40 to 50. The Zul'Farrak dungeon in the north-west of the desert is for roughly levels 44 to 54.

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