These towers help players reveal new areas and mark new locations of interest on the map. The world is scattered with outposts controlled by Pagan Min, which can be infiltrated by players. The map is progressively opened by liberating bell towers, freeing them from Pagan Min's influence and allowing the Golden Path to expand.
Players start in South Kyrat and are free to explore it almost immediately, but can only unlock North Kyrat over the course of the story. The game world is divided into two halves: North and South Kyrat. Players can issue commands to the tiger, which assists them in battle. While in Shangri-La, players are accompanied by an injured tiger which serves as their companion. Parts of the game take place in Shangri-La, a mystical dreamland where players battle demons as the Kyrati warrior Kalinag. The Buzzer, an aerial, gyrocopter-like vehicle, is introduced in the game, allowing players to gain a tactical advantage from the air. Parachutes, wingsuits, and grappling hooks are also featured in the game these items help players swing across cliffs and quickly navigate the environment. Players can drive and shoot at the same time, and can enable auto-drive, in which the game's artificial intelligence takes over the role of controlling the vehicle and guides players to their objectives. Players can also hijack other vehicles while driving. It features several environments, including forests, rivers, and mountains. To allow players to travel between places faster, the game features various vehicles, including buggies, trucks, and water vehicles like speedboats. The game features an open world environment that is free for players to explore.