Kharidian Desert

By: Golden Arm42

Special Thanks to: -Ryan-, Alex0252, Ambo100, Azarath, Damaged500, Dani, Egghebrecht, GrandTheftGamer, Greek Cook, Hawk, heb0, Iggyfangmax, Jethraw, Lambug, Mitsuhide Komine, Pig, Samsara, Simple013, Styx93, TakerMayFire, z0mg h4xz0rz him pl0x

Ever wondered what lies in the vast wasteland south of Al Kharid? Well, it's the desolate Kharidian Desert, and it's a dangerous place, filled with bandits, crocodiles and vultures. However, the Kharidian Desert offers good rewards to those who dare to breach it. In the Kharidian Desert, you can start many quests, fight some unusual monsters, and even play an Activity!

Preparation

First, before you enter the Kharidian Desert, visit Shantay at Shantay Pass, south of Al Kharid.

Shantay Pass

From Shantay's shop, you can buy most of the items that you'll ever need to stay safe in the desert. First, buy a Shantay Pass from its namesake, which will allow you to access the Desert. Next, buy a Desert Shirt, Desert Robe and Desert Boots.

These robes will let you go longer without needing water. If you've completed the Rogue Trader Activity, the desert clothes that you can buy at the end will also serve as part of your SDTG (Standard Desert Traveling Gear).

Even if you reflect the sun's heat, you'll still need a water source. From Shantay, you can buy a Waterskin (4) for the small sum of 32 gp. Before setting out into the desert, make sure that you have 2-5 Waterskins. At this point, you will have a complete set of SDTG.

Your character will automatically drink from the Waterskin when he/she is thirsty and it will become a Waterskin (3). To fill it up again, simply use the Waterskin with a sink, or a bucket or jug filled with water. Additionally, by cutting a healthy Kharidian cactus with a knife, you will give your Waterskin another dose of water. However, relying on cacti is risky; you will sometimes fail to cut the cactus and not receive any water from it. In the desert, all water in open containers (e.g., buckets, bowls) will evaporate.

Kharidian Cactus

Attractions

Now that you know the risks of the Desert, it's time for the good parts. Of course, not all of the Kharidian Desert is, well, desert. Many cities have sprung up at oases, where drinking from your Waterskin is not necessary.

Pollnivneach

The largest of these cities is Pollnivneach, on the bank of the River Elid.

The city of Pollnivneach

Pollnivneach boasts a Kebab shop, the Smoke Dungeon , and plays a major role in The Feud quest. If you need to restock your supplies, you can buy Waterskins from the town General Store.

Pollnivneach General Store

Pollnivneach General Store
Picture	Item	Price
	Pot	1gp
	Jug	1gp
	Waterskin (3)	7gp
	Desert Shirt	40gp
	Desert Boots	20gp
	Bucket	2gp
	Fake Beard	1gp
	Karidian Headpiece	1gp
	Cheese	4gp
	Lime	2gp
	Orange	2gp
	Tomato	4gp
	Jug of Water	1gp
	Bowl of Water	4gp
	Bucket of Water	6gp

The Asp and Snake Bar

The Asp & Snake Bar
Picture	Item	Price
	Beer	2gp
	Whisky	5gp
	Jug of Wine	1gp
	Vodka	5gp
	Brandy	5gp
	Grog	3gp

Blackjack Shop

Blackjack Shop
Picture	Item	Price
	Willow Blackjack	600gp

Nardah

Another important desert city is Nardah, southeast of Pollnivneach.

The city of Nardah.

This city's main attraction is for its role in the Spirits of the Elid quest. There's also a bank in Nardah, which is handy, given that it's the only bank in the Kharidian Desert. Additionally, if you don't have a high enough Herblore level, you can have all your unidentified herbs identified for the fee of 200 coins per herb, and you can buy pieces of black and runite armor from the armor shop there. Before you leave Nardah, be sure to stop in and sample Rokuh's Runescape-famous Chocolate Ices!

Some delicious choco ice!

Seddu's Armor Store

Seddu's Armor Store
Picture	Item	Cost
	Rune Plateskirt	64,000gp
	Rune Platelegs	64,000gp
	Rune Chainbody	50,000gp
	Green D'hide Chaps	3,705gp
	Green D'hide Vambraces	2,375gp
	Steel Kiteshield	807gp
	Black Med Helm	507gp

Rokuh's Shop

Rok's Chocs Box
Picture	Item	Cost
	Choc-ice	30gp
	Chocolate Bar	20gp

Nardah Hunter Shop

Nardah Hunter Shop
Picture	Item	Cost
	Butterfly Net	24gp
	Butterfly Jar	1gp
	Magic Box	720gp
	Noose Wand	4gp
	Bird Snare	6gp
	Box Trap	38gp
	Teasing Stick	60gp
	Unlit Torch	4gp
	Rabbit Snare	18gp

Nardah General Store

Nardah General Store
Picture	Item	Price
	Pot	1gp
	Jug	1gp
	Shears	1gp
	Bucket	2gp
	Bowl	5gp
	Cake Tin	13gp
	Tinderbox	1gp
	Chisel	1gp
	Hammer	1gp
	Newcomer Map	1gp

Bedabin Camp

To the southwest of Shantay Pass and northwest of Pollnivneach is the Bedabin Camp. This city plays a major part in The Tourist Trap quest. Additionally, the Bedabin Camp provides a place for you to restock on your water supplies, as by trading with the Bedabin Nomads, you can buy Waterskins, Knives and more.

Bartering Menu

Bedabin Village Bartering

Bedabin Village Bartering
Picture	Item	Price
	Waterskin (4)	36gp
	Waterskin (0)	18gp
	Jug of Water	1gp
	Bowl of Water	4gp
	Bucket of Water	7gp
	Knife	7gp

Sophanem

Finally, the last major city in the Kharidian Desert is Sophanem.

The city of Sophanem

This interesting city, although in the middle of nowhere, is the home of the Pyramid Plunder Activity and is the start location for the quest Contact and plays a major part in Icthlarin's Little Helper quest.

Raetul and Co's Cloth Store

Raetul and Co's Cloth Store
Picture	Item	Price
	Linen	30gp
	Desert Shirt	40gp
	Desert Robe	40gp
	Silk	30gp
	Thread	1gp
	Needle	1gp

Embalmer

Embalmer
Picture	Item	Price
	Pot	1gp
	Gnome Spice	3gp
	Curry Leaf	28gp
	Pile of Salt	30gp
	Bucket of Sap	45gp
	Anti-Poison (3)	432gp

Blades by Urbi

Blades by Urbi
Picture	Item	Price
	Bronze Dagger	15gp
	Bronze Scimitar	48gp
	Iron Dagger	52gp
	Iron Scimitar	168gp
	Steel Dagger	187gp
	Steel Scimitar	600gp
	Mithril Dagger	487gp
	Adamant Dagger	1,200gp
	Rune Dagger	12,000gp
	Dragon Dagger	45,000gp
	Stone Scarab	22gp
	Stone Statuette	26gp
	Pottery Statuette	14gp

Nathifa's Bake Stall

Nathifa's Bake Stall
Picture	Item	Price
	Waterskin	30gp
	Cake	50gp
	Bread	12gp
	Chocolate Slice	30gp

Jamilla's Craft Stall

Jamilla's Craft Stall
Picture	Item	Price
	Tiara Mould	150gp
	Sickle Mould	15gp
	Holy Mould	7gp
	Amulet Mould	7gp
	Ring Mould	7gp
	Necklace Mould	7gp
	Chisel	1gp
	Thread	1gp
	Needle	1gp

Kalphite Lair

There are many other things to do in the Kharidian Desert that aren't in cities, per se. Southwest of Shantay Pass is the Kalphite Lair, home of the level 333 Kalphite Queen. Along with the Queen, there are dozens of lower-level Kalphites roaming the dungeon, whom you can easily use for Slayer tasks. This dungeon also contains the only respawn of Potato Cactus in the game, used in making potions for Herblore.

Kalphite Lair

Desert Mining Camp

Directly south of Shantay Pass, the Desert Mining Camp is a good spot for high level miners. This mine boasts six adamantite rocks and six mithril rocks. To access the camp, you need to have completed The Tourist Trap quest.

Desert Bandit Camp

Southwest of the Desert Mining Camp is the Desert Bandit Camp. This city provides one of the best training areas in Runescape, if you know how to do it. For more information about this method, check out the Desert Bandit Camp city guide. In addition to training, you can buy a frosty Bandit's Brew for 650 coins, which temporarily raises your Thieving by one level. Finally, the Bandit Camp has a General Store that allows you to restock on desert supplies.

Bandit Bargains

Bandit Bargains
Picture	Item	Price
	Waterskin (4)	30gp
	Waterskin (0)	15gp
	Jug of Water	1gp
	Bowl of Water	4gp
	Bucket of Water	6gp
	Jug	1gp
	Bowl	4gp
	Bucket	2gp
	Desert Boots	20gp
	Desert Shirt	40gp
	Desert Robe	40gp
	Knife	6gp

Quarry

Another desert mining spot is southwest of the Desert Mining Camp, at the Quarry. Here, there are 20+ sandstone and granite rocks, which provide excellent experience if you like to powermine. The Quarry plays a role in the Enakhra's Lament quest, and the quest's start point, Lazim, stands north of the Quarry.

Pyramid

Directly east of the Quarry is the Pyramid. The Pyramid's sole function is as part of the Desert Treasure quest. Azzandra, the final character in Desert Treasure, can be found here.

Agility Pyramid

At this point, we must cross the River Elid on our trip through the Kharidian Desert. There are only two bridges on the River Elid. One is directly east of the Pyramid and the other is southeast of Shantay Pass.

River Elid Bridge

Once you cross the bridge east of the Pyramid, the next major landmark is the Agility Pyramid Activity, located southeast of the bridge. You need 30 Agility to play, but that work pays off. You get a good Agility Experience boost when you finish it. Be sure to bring food, some Agility Potions and the rest Waterskins if you want to stay camped there. There are many obstacles to dodge, and some of them get frustrating. Be sure to be wearing Desert Robes when you do this, to conserve your waterskins. To put the Agility Pyramid in geographical perspective, southwest of the Agility Pyramid are the twin cities of Sophanem and Menaphos, and northeast of the Agility Pyramid is the city of Nardah.

Hunter Area

A long way north of Nardah is the next attraction: a Hunter area. Here, with level 13 Hunter, you can catch Desert Devils. They drop bones, raw beast meat, and desert devil fur, the last of which is used to make Camo-Gear.

Ruins of Uzer

Time for the last Kharidian Desert attraction! It's the Ruins of Uzer, the location of The Golem quest. Other than that, there's nothing to do, except for a small clay mine to the northwest.

Desert Transportation

The best way to get from city to city in the Kharidian Desert is by Magic Carpet, as it's much faster than walking. A Magic Carpet station icon is marked by the () symbol on your map. The cities/attractions that are accessible by Magic Carpet are: Pollnivneach, Sophanem, Menaphos, the Bedabin Camp, the Ruins of Uzer, and Shantay Pass. For some of these cities, you need to complete a quest to before being able to take a Magic Carpet to these cities. Magic Carpet rides are a little expensive: 200 coins per trip. However, the price is reduced to 100 coins if you have a Ring of Charos (a). The price of a carpet ride is further reduced, to 75 gp, if you've completed the Rogue Trader Activity. For more information about Magic Carpets, check out the excellent Magic Carpets guide.