Himalayan Ibex: Where to See Them in Pakistan

The easiest place to see ibex in Pakistan is upper Hunza, the Gojal valleys around Passu, Hussaini, Gulmit and Sost, and the road up through Khunjerab National Park. Hunza district holds about 3,000 of the 7,294 Himalayan ibex counted in Gilgit-Baltistan's latest survey, more than any other district. In summer, look on the slopes above the Karakoram Highway towards Khunjerab at dawn or dusk; in winter, from December, snow and the rut bring herds down close to the villages.

Baltistan comes second, with large herds in Hushe and Shigar. This guide covers where the ibex are, when they come within sight, how the community conservancies work, and how to plan a trip around them.

Where are ibex found in Pakistan?

Himalayan ibex live across the high mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan and in parts of Chitral, on rocky slopes and cliffs above the tree line. They are not the same animal as the markhor, which lives lower down and has corkscrew horns; see our markhor guide for that one. Nor are they the "Sindh ibex" of Kirthar and Hingol, which is a wild goat of the southern hills.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department counts ibex every winter in the community-controlled hunting areas (CCHAs), the village-managed valleys where trophy hunting is allowed. Its 2024 to 25 survey, carried out between 15 December 2024 and 31 January 2025, counted 7,294 ibex in 323 herds. That was the highest count since the current survey method began in 2020, about 1,700 more than the year before, partly because new areas were added. National parks such as Khunjerab are counted separately and are not in that total.

Where is the best place to see ibex?

Gojal and upper Hunza

Gojal, the upper Hunza valley from Gulmit to Sost, is the best ibex country in Pakistan. The highest counts in the 2024 to 25 survey were all here:

• Misgar: 568 ibex, in the side valley north of Sost.
• Khunjerab Village Organisation area: 545, the community land around the national park.
• Passu: 446, the valley behind the Passu Cones.
• Chipurson: 294, the long valley west of Sost towards the Afghan border.
• Khyber, Hussaini, Gulmit, Ghulkin and Shimshal: roughly 195 to 250 each.

Hussaini had the highest density anywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan, about 5.5 ibex per square kilometre. These valleys sit right on the Karakoram Highway, which is why Gojal is the one place where a family on a normal Hunza trip has a real chance of a sighting. Nagar's Hopper and Hisper valleys, across the river from Karimabad, add another 450 or so. The upper Chipurson valley runs within 10 miles of the Afghan border, a zone the UK government advises against, so overseas visitors should check their own advice before going far up it.

Khunjerab National Park

Khunjerab, beyond Sost on the way to the China border, holds over 1,000 ibex according to park estimates. In summer this is the easiest viewing: scan the slopes above the road between the Dih checkpoint and the pass, early or late in the day. Our Khunjerab National Park wildlife guide covers the other animals you may see on the drive and how to watch them from the road.

Baltistan: Hushe, Shigar and Skardu

Baltistan's biggest herds are in Hushe (462 counted) in Ghanche district, the trekking valley below Masherbrum, and in Basha (323) in Shigar. The Askole, Biafo and Laskam area on the way to K2 counted 159, and the Hoto, Kachura and Chunda area near Skardu 117. Ibex here usually need a walk or a jeep up a side valley rather than a scan from the main road. Our Hushe valley guide covers getting there.

Ghizer, Astore and Chitral

Ghizer district counted 705, mostly in Qurumbar and Ishkoman, and Astore 276, with the largest herd in Rupal below Nanga Parbat. In Chitral, ibex share Chitral Gol National Park with markhor, though they keep to higher ground.

When are ibex easiest to see?

Winter is the best season for close sightings. The rut starts after the end of November, with the first snowfall, and runs through December. Mature males join the female herds, and snow on the high pastures pushes everyone down towards the valley floors. That is why the wildlife department does its counts in December and January: herds are lower, larger and easier to see from the valley. In Gojal, this can mean ibex on cliffs a short drive from Passu or Gulmit.

Summer is the season for Khunjerab. From June to September the Khunjerab road is open and ibex graze the high slopes beside it. They are further away and more spread out than in winter, but the drive is easy and fits into any Hunza trip.

Time of day matters most. Ibex feed at dawn and in the late afternoon and lie up on ledges in the middle of the day, where they are almost impossible to pick out. Be in position by first light.

How do the community conservancies work?

Gilgit-Baltistan's trophy hunting programme began in 1990, when ibex and markhor had been heavily poached since the Karakoram Highway opened the valleys. The deal is simple: a village stops poaching and employs its own wildlife watchers, and in return it gets 80% of the fee for each trophy permit sold in its area. The rest goes to the government. There are now 63 community areas, with more being planned.

Quotas are set from the winter survey and are small. For 2025 to 26, the department auctioned 100 Himalayan ibex permits. The base price was US$10,000, about PKR 28 lakh, and the highest bid was US$13,000. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sold 20 ibex permits for local hunters in the same season.

For visitors, the rules are straightforward:

• Watching is fine; hunting is only by permit. Shooting an ibex outside the scheme is poaching, and village watchers report it.
• These are village lands. Before walking into a nullah, ask in the village for the wildlife watcher. He knows where the herd is and can keep you from disturbing it.
• Keep your distance, especially in winter. Food is scarce and every climb through snow costs energy. Don't push herds uphill or follow them for a closer photo.
• Pay the Khunjerab park fee at Dih. See our Khunjerab National Park entry fee guide for how it works.

How do you plan an ibex trip?

For a summer trip, ibex are simply part of a Hunza itinerary: one early start on the Khunjerab day gives you the best chance. For a winter trip, base yourself in Gulmit or Passu for two or three nights and plan dawn sessions in the nearby valleys with a local guide. Our Hunza in winter guide covers what is open, heating and road conditions.

Getting there in winter usually means a flight to Gilgit or Skardu, or the Karakoram Highway by road, since the Babusar Pass is closed. The UK government advises against all travel on the highway between Mansehra and Chilas (via Besham and Dasu); in summer, the Babusar route avoids that stretch. Pakistani travellers use the highway all year, but if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice, because travelling against it can void your insurance.

Bring proper optics. A spotting scope shows you horns and behaviour; binoculars mostly show you brown shapes on a brown slope. Many local guides carry a scope, so ask when you book.

Is an ibex trip worth it?

It suits wildlife watchers and photographers, and anyone visiting Hunza in winter who wants a purpose for the cold mornings. Ibex are the most reliable large mammal sighting in northern Pakistan, far more so than snow leopard or brown bear.

It doesn't suit anyone expecting a safari park. Even in a good valley the herd may be a kilometre away on a cliff, and a winter dawn at Passu is well below freezing. If you want an easy wildlife day with young children, the summer Khunjerab drive, with marmots beside the road and a chance of ibex above it, is the gentler option. Our experiences page lists other ways to add wildlife to a northern trip.

Frequently asked questions