The Askar, then the Argandoita, via the thousand-year-old oak tree

A beautiful hike that takes us to the magnificent village of Urdax, then up twice to admire the surrounding peaks from which we can even see the ocean.
Last but not least, the thousand-year-old oak tree is a sight to behold.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 381 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 380 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 404 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 85 m

Photos

Description of the walk

By car :
Around the beautiful village of Ainhoa, cross the border at Dantxaria.
Follow the N-121-B road for about 1.5km, then turn right as signposted to Urdax.
Park in the village square (if crowded, parking is available at the far end).

On foot :
(S/E) From the square, head North-West, the route is signposted in green and white.
At the tobacconist's, turn left and follow the same signs.
Admire the beautiful houses along the small road, which turns into a track after the last house.
Pass by a small barn and walk uphill, in the shade of the forest, until you reach a sign.

(1) Turn right onto the "Loiara" path, still marked Vert-et-Blanc.
Continue along the path, alternating between sun and shade, ignoring the small switchbacks, until you reach the end of a wood.

(2) Discover due south, the summit of Alkuruntz.
Further on, follow a pretty little house to the right and after 100 m of track, fork right, the path is always signposted.
Meet some fine specimen oaks and the path rises steeply.
Then reach a grassy plateau.

(3) Just after a low stone wall, ignore a path to the left and continue along the marked path, with the Azkar in sight. Reach the pass.

(4) Admire the new view of the ocean in the distance.
From here, take the obvious North-East path to the summit of the Azkar.

(5) From the top, use a map to discover the names of the various peaks around you.
Return to the pass (the round trip, including a short break, will have taken you 1/4h).

(4) At the sign for the pass, follow the signs for "Urdazubi" down the other side.
The path is always marked in green and white. Pass a drinking trough (non-drinking water), often used by local Pottoks as a meeting place.
1/4h after the pass, at a crossroads, ignore a path that climbs to the left and continue downhill to the right. 1/4h later, join a road and take it to the right to climb towards the prominent Argandoita antennae. On the way up, just before a cattle grid, note the path to the left (north), which will be followed later.

(6) Climb to the top of Ardangoita along the path on the right and discover the non-photogenic Dantxarinea shopping area below.

(7) Climb back down to the crossroads (1/4h return).

(6) Turn right onto the path marked "Axularen Txokoa", still marked Green-and-White.
100m further on, leave the path on the left and continue down through the ferns.
Further on, reach a new signpost.

(8) Follow the "Axularen Txokoa" sign to the left. The descent is sometimes steep and tricky if it has rained.
Arrive at a magnificent thousand-year-old oak tree with a trunk 6m in diameter.
Turn right, still following the signs for "Axularen Txokoa". Further on, cross a cattle grid, ignoring a path to the right.
Further down, at a junction, continue straight ahead (the markings on the left are crossed out).
Go past the Axular farm and down to road N-121-B.

(9) Take the road on the left. 150 m further on, after crossing the Nivelle river, turn right (the signposting remains the same) and drive into the village on a delightful little road lined with drinking-water fountains, sculptures, a wash-house, beautiful farmhouses, etc...

(E) Cross the Nive river again to reach the village square(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 99 m - Village square
  2. 1 : km 1.02 - alt. 167 m - Green and White sign on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 213 m - View Alkuruntz
  4. 3 : km 2.47 - alt. 341 m - Grassy plateau
  5. 4 : km 2.98 - alt. 385 m - Collar
  6. 5 : km 3.2 - alt. 404 m - Azkar Summit
  7. 6 : km 4.8 - alt. 291 m - Canadian passage
  8. 7 : km 5.21 - alt. 350 m - Ardangoita summit
  9. 8 : km 5.98 - alt. 241 m - Sign on the left
  10. 9 : km 7.24 - alt. 97 m - Junction Route N-121-B. - Nivelle (fleuve)
  11. S/E : km 8.64 - alt. 99 m - Village square

Notes

At the start, there's a fountain and a toilet.
Along the way, a few streams and a drinking trough provide refreshment (head, neck,
limbs), but the water is not drinkable.

You have to wait until the last 1/4h to find plenty of drinking water.

Worth a visit

The village of Urdax is stunning. Don't hesitate to wander through the narrow streets around the mill.
A tourist office provides a wealth of information.
Next to this "Turismo" is a small animal park, home to a multitude of birds of prey.
As for the monastery, it often hosts art exhibitions.
On the way back, don't hesitate to stop in Dantxaria for groceries (petrol, alcohol, cold meats, etc.).
A word of advice: if you want to stock up on culinary pottery, stop off on the left at Venta Felix, a small, friendly, well-stocked and inexpensive family-run store opposite the gigantic PEIO, where you can buy the rest.
On the way back, you can also make a detour to Ainhoa, one of France's most beautiful villages.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 45 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
ltb
ltb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

at the start, the markings are not really green and white but orange and red for a few kilometres, with green and white here and there. I really enjoyed myself in the good weather, but some sections were steep and very slippery, both uphill and downhill.

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User 10335118

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike

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joel38120
joel38120

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, well-shaded route for the first part. The view from the top is magnificent.
There are sometimes several tracks, but by following the route and the green/white markings, it is very easy to follow
This route should be avoided in wet weather as the section after the thousand-year-old oak tree can be very slippery, but it is not dangerous

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Picoic64
Picoic64

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy your hike, just remember to bring sunscreen and pack a picnic, otherwise it's a very beautiful hike with great views

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eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route that takes you up to the summit of Azkar, overlooking Urdax, and then past the thousand-year-old oak tree on the way down. Avoid this route in wet weather, as run-off tends to follow the same route.

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franstechalo
franstechalo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

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xaqtl
xaqtl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Avoid wet terrain.
Otherwise very beautiful views; don't finish without seeing the oak tree.
the return along the nivelle, after the road, is very pleasant (but short).
to paraphrase Jean-Marc Sallée:
on the other hand, the climb up to Argandoita offers nothing but tarmac and pylons.

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ANNE40
ANNE40

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did the circuit with the GPS, existing circuit well marked. beautiful panoramas of magnificent oaks
to make without hesitation but not by wet ground, difficult. to remake in spring and autumn.

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ccousin
ccousin

This is a lovely walk to discover the village of Urdax. No difficulties and well-marked path. The description was perfect. The path on the way back was a little slippery in places.

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CriMey
CriMey
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, very accessible walk for non-sports enthusiasts and children. The path is very well signposted and the author's descriptions are very clear.
We did it in 3 hours, because we took the time to stop and contemplate the magnificent views. As well as the thousand-year-old oak, I recommend admiring the many holly trees that line the path between points 4 and 6. At this time of year, the red berries are magnificent.
I can confirm that the descent at point 8 can be a little trickier and that you should bring bottled water.

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Patrice Landes
Patrice Landes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy walk. Very friendly and welcoming village.
Monastery in town centre.
Several restaurants on site.

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BERNARD ALAIN
BERNARD ALAIN
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting hike. Medium difficulty. Beautiful views from Askar and in the2nd half of the route. Magnificent trees, especially the thousand-year-old

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Pat6464
Pat6464

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk with no difficulties, as described in the route description and well signposted (green and white). Very nice views from the summit of Askar.

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Daniel Louis Etxeto
Daniel Louis Etxeto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At the bottom of the Baztan valley, on the border with France, the Askar and Argandoita mountains offer panoramic views, from the Rhune in the west (and perhaps the ocean, depending on the light), to the small mountains that close off the valley on its eastern flank.the oaks are in all their splendour, the "millennium" (?) impressing by its strength and health: respect! It's a very good choice for a walk, especially at this blessed time of year in October when the air is mild and the colours of the forest are enchanting.

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Beñat 2
Beñat 2

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk with no difficulties
Nothing to say about the route description
A pleasant route for a group of slightly older people
I plan to do it again soon

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