TL;DR
- Varnia is the northernmost city in Pywel, located in the far northeast of the Crimson Desert region
- Travel north from Tommasso through Urdavah and the Trader’s Expanse to reach Varnia Gorge — cross the bridge to enter
- Sandstorms in the Trader’s Expanse can teleport you away — use the Blackstar Dragon mount (Chapter 11) to fly over them safely
- Unlock the fast travel point by standing on the platform below the “R” in Varnia on your map
- Ring the Bell Tower at Whitesand Retreat by climbing the tower, pushing the lever counter-clockwise, then ringing the bell when it drops
Varnia is one of the most remote locations in all of Crimson Desert. It sits at the very northern tip of the continent of Pywel, past the main Crimson Desert region, and most players arrive there late in the game. Getting there takes some preparation. The road is long, and one stretch — the Trader’s Expanse — has sandstorms that can pick you up and throw you miles off course.
Once you arrive, there are two important things to do: unlock the Abyss Nexus fast travel point, and activate the Bell Tower to clear the fog of war from the northern map. This guide walks you through both.
What Is Varnia?
Varnia is a holy city devoted to the worship of Atima. It is described as a place of pilgrimage and spiritual devotion, sitting at the far northeast corner of the world map. The city is built around a palace with a large dome at its center — that dome is where the Bell Tower is hidden.
The Varnia Bell is one of eight bells in the Toll of Pywel quest chain. Ringing all eight reveals the full world map. Varnia is typically the last bell players reach due to how far away it is. The city also has a Royal Trading Post, which makes the long trip worthwhile for players focused on trade runs. See our guide on how to trade goods in Crimson Desert if you want to make profit on the journey.
How to Get to Varnia
Recommended: Use the Blackstar Dragon Mount
Before heading to Varnia, it is strongly recommended to complete the Chapter 11 story arc first. This unlocks the Blackstar Dragon mount. Flying with the dragon lets you soar over the Trader’s Expanse at high altitude, completely bypassing the sandstorms. If you try to cross on foot or horseback, the sandstorms can sweep you up and teleport you far away from the area — forcing you to start the whole trek over.
If you have not reached Chapter 11 yet, stick to the rocky outcroppings along the edges of the Expanse when riding through. Stay off the open dunes. If the screen starts turning grey and you hear wind howling, find cover behind a rock immediately or turn back.
Check our Crimson Desert horse guide for tips on fast mounts if you do not have the dragon yet.
Step-by-Step Route to Varnia
Step 1 — Start at Tommasso
Begin from Tommasso, the main settlement in the Tashkalp subregion of the Crimson Desert. This is the last major hub before the long northern stretch. Stock up on food, Spirit-restoring items, and stamina recovery consumables before leaving. Check our guide on how to cook the best healing food in Crimson Desert to prepare properly.
Step 2 — Head North Through Urdavah
Follow the main road northeast out of Tommasso toward Urdavah. Urdavah is a gateway village built around the Great Gate of Urdavah and sits along the pilgrimage route to Varnia. Stick to the road — going off it through this terrain costs time.
Step 3 — Cross the Trader’s Expanse
Continue north past Urdavah and you will enter the Trader’s Expanse. This is the danger zone. If flying on the Blackstar Dragon, maintain high altitude to avoid wind currents that can pull you down. If riding, hug the edges of the terrain and avoid the open sandy middle sections.
Step 4 — Cross the Bridge at Varnia Gorge
As you approach the city, you will reach Varnia Gorge — a large canyon with a stone bridge spanning it. This bridge is the only land-based entrance into Varnia. Cross it and you are in. If you are flying, the gorge is a clear landmark. The city sits directly on the cliffs on the far side.
How to Unlock the Varnia Fast Travel Point
Once you are inside Varnia, unlock the Abyss Nexus fast travel point immediately so you do not have to make this journey again. Open your map and look at the Varnia label. The fast travel platform sits directly underneath the “R” in the word “Varnia” on your map. Find that spot on the ground and stand on the platform to activate it. You can now teleport back here at any time. See our full guide on how to fast travel in Crimson Desert for more.
How to Activate the Varnia Bell Tower
The Bell Tower is located at the Whitesand Retreat in the center of Varnia. It is the large building with a dome roof — easy to spot from anywhere in the city.
Step 1 — Reach the Bell Tower
From the city entrance, follow the main path as it spirals upward toward the Whitesand Retreat area. Head to the northeast wall and look for the tallest tower. You can also scale the exterior of the building directly — it is often faster than navigating the interior stairs.
Step 2 — Push the Lever
Near the top of the tower, you will find a lever mechanism rather than a visible bell. The bell is hidden inside the closed dome. Use the Left Stick to push the bar to the left and rotate it counter-clockwise in a full circle. This causes the dome roof to open outward like a blooming flower.
Step 3 — Ring the Bell
Once the lever has been pushed all the way and the roof is open, the Great Varnia Bell drops down into the center of the tower. Jump onto the platform containing the bell and interact with it to ring it. A cutscene plays showing the sound pulse clearing the fog from the northern portion of the Crimson Desert map.
After ringing the bell, a Shai child will appear and reveal nearby points of interest including Knowledge Entries and locations in the surrounding area.
What to Do in Varnia
Clear the fog of war. The bell is the main reason most players make the trip. Ringing it reveals the northernmost part of the Crimson Desert map, which you cannot uncover any other way.
Use the Royal Trading Post. Varnia’s remote location means trade goods sold here fetch a higher price than closer towns. The distance premium makes a well-loaded trade run very profitable.
Complete the Toll of Pywel quest chain. The Varnia bell is part of the broader Toll of Pywel faction quest. Check our guide on all bell tower locations in Crimson Desert to make sure you have rung every bell and revealed the full map.
Explore the surrounding territory. Varnia Territory has its own Sealed Abyss Artifacts and collectibles. With fast travel now unlocked, you can sweep through the area at your own pace.
Tips for the Journey
Bring plenty of stamina food. The trek from Tommasso to Varnia is long. Running low on stamina during the Trader’s Expanse crossing is a real problem. Bring food that restores both Health and Spirit. See our guide on how to get max Spirit in Crimson Desert if your Spirit gauge feels too small for the journey.
Do not skip Urdavah on the way through. Urdavah has its own research institute. Investing in research here unlocks Mercury deposit map markers and other late-game benefits. Check our Crimson Desert research guide for what is worth funding.
Ring both Crimson Desert bells. The Crimson Desert region has two bells — Tommasso in the south and Varnia in the north. If you have not rung the Tommasso bell yet, do that first before heading all the way to Varnia.
Plan a trade run on the return trip. Varnia’s Royal Trading Post pays well. Load up on trade goods before departing, sell them on arrival, and use the fast travel you just unlocked to return instantly.
More Crimson Desert Guides
- All Bell Tower Locations in Crimson Desert
- How to Fast Travel in Crimson Desert
- How to Trade Goods in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Horse Guide
- How to Get a Dragon in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Max Spirit in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Max Stamina in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Max Health in Crimson Desert
- How to Cook the Best Healing Food in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Guide Hub
Crimson Desert is available now on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Visit the official Crimson Desert website for more.
