Xoldoko Gaina loop climb

Starting from Biriatou, climb Xoldoko Gaina and its tower.
This hike takes you quickly up the Basque Coast, with views of La Rhune, the 3 Couronnes and the Côte d'Argent in the Bay of Biscay.
The return journey is along the Bidassoa.

Details

1824180
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.56 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 527 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 527 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 486 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 53 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from Biriatou towards the school path. Park in the car park below the church.

Red and whiteGR®10markings.

(S/E) Cross the village, passing in front of the pontoon and leaving the church on your left.
Continue along the Aruntz path, turn right onto the Martingoity path and keep right on the water tower path (Mendiko Bidea).

(1) At the car park sign, leave the road and take the dirt track that climbs up to the left. Continue climbing. At the first fork, go right. At the second fork, go left, at the next fork, go left-right, leaving theGR®10, then go through a cattle grid.

Yellow markings.

(2) Pass under the high-voltage power line and continue climbing, following the yellow markings. You will come back to the power line further on.
The Rocher des Perdrix is above you on the right.
An orientation map helps you locate the magnificent landscape stretching out before you.

(3) Continue climbing south-east, following the yellow markings to the summit of Xoldoko Gaina.
Enjoy the view here.

(4) Descend on the other side of Xoldoko Gaina via the Osingo Lepoa pass.

(5) Then continue straight ahead, and you will see Lake Xoldoko Gaina or Ibardin ¹ on your left.
Continue to the crossroads at a place called Pitare.

Red and whiteGR®10markings.

(6) Turn right, then quickly left.
Walk along a track that winds through the undergrowth until you reach the end. You will come to a crossroads at a spring.

Yellow markings.

(7) Take the left-hand path, following the yellow markings to the animal barrier at the crossroads of the path leading to Ihiztokia.

(8) Then turn right. Continue along the path, which narrows until you rejoin the path you took on the way out after passing under the high-voltage line at the junction of the loop.

(2) Turn left and retrace your steps to easily find the car park at Biriatou (A/D).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 53 m - Car park below the church. GR10 near the - Bidassoa (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 103 m - Start on the dirt track
  3. 2 : km 0.92 - alt. 159 m - Very high voltage power line. Yellow markings
  4. 3 : km 1.5 - alt. 289 m - Rocher des Perdrix
  5. 4 : km 2.66 - alt. 486 m - Summit of Xoldokogaina
  6. 5 : km 3.36 - alt. 373 m - Osingo Lepoa (pass)
  7. 6 : km 3.98 - alt. 317 m - Pitare intersection. Turn right. GR10
  8. 7 : km 5.41 - alt. 201 m - On the left, follow the yellow markings
  9. 8 : km 6.46 - alt. 94 m - Animal barrier
  10. S/E : km 8.56 - alt. 53 m - Car park below the church

Notes

We did not find any water sources.
Good walking shoes are necessary as there are some very steep sections (uphill and downhill).
(7) Note: the path on the right (GR®10) also leads back to the crossroads at the start of the loop.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
thierrylafitte
thierrylafitte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk

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Anne-Valerie
Anne-Valerie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice

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Scagnelli
Scagnelli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route with superb views of the ocean and surrounding mountains. As described and easy to follow with GPS.

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FrHERAUD
FrHERAUD

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, signage a bit lacking in places

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OLVD
OLVD

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

After point 8, a second animal barrier is closed with barbed wire and cannot be opened. This constitutes a significant obstacle for unwary hikers

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LM64
LM64
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike once you've made it all the way up, with beautiful views of the Basque mountains and the coast. The trail and paths are passable, although there was some mud in a small section of the forest due to heavy rainfall this year.
We pushed on to the lake below, which is not very far away, looking for access to the shore but couldn't find any. I think you can access the dam footbridge from the other side... Something to explore another time, planning a longer hike...

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landozarzi
landozarzi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is done in the opposite direction to the description, allowing you to fully enjoy the view of the coast.
The church in Biriatou is open and worth a look with its superimposed galleries. If you follow the route in the direction indicated by the author, you will stay on the GR10, following it to Pitare, where you will leave it to follow the GRT02 for a short while.
The paths may be muddy, and you may encounter pottoks and betizus on this route.

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BOUCHS Marc
BOUCHS Marc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a lovely route today, with slightly chilly weather but enough sunshine to enjoy the scenery. The route is well marked. Personally, I would recommend doing it in the opposite direction to enjoy the view on the way down, but that's just my opinion. On the other hand, on a very hot day, the shaded return journey (in the normal direction) must be very pleasant

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RosineR
RosineR

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent and varied hike. 360° views of the surrounding peaks, Hendaye Bay and San Sebastián.
The path is moderately busy at this time of year.
However, be careful on the section after the orientation table, point 3. You take a wide track that quickly descends, but the path to follow is not very visible and is located opposite, above the embankment. You have to veer slightly to the left to take it without climbing the embankment.
Thank you for this beautiful hike.

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Tekbar
Tekbar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with superb views of the Basque coast, La Rhune and even San Sebastian.
Once you reach the summit after a 2-kilometre climb, the hardest part is behind you.
Once you come back down, you can easily make a short detour to Lake Xoldoko.

The trail is well marked and easy to follow.

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Castor63
Castor63

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with superb views of the coast from San Sebastian to Biarritz.
Unfortunately, just after the Col des Perdrix
and its orientation table, where the trail leaves a wider path, recent heavy rains have made access to the trail very difficult. You have to "climb" a muddy 1.50-metre vertical slope with no handholds or footholds

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Thiech
Thiech
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the hike backwards because a roadworks sign prevented us from taking the "Outward" path under the first high-voltage pylon. In the end, it was better to start with the "Return" path, which is of little interest except for the coolness of the forest. At the pass (intersection of several gravel paths, ideal spot for a picnic with a view of the Rhune), we made a detour to the lake (take the left to reach the dam, which offers a beautiful view of the ocean, 3-4km round trip). We returned via the "Outward" path (strangely, there were no roadworks signs on this side) to enjoy a superb view of the coast (from Fontarabie to Biarritz) during the entire descent (a little rough, however, and to be avoided in hot weather as there is no shade at all).
On the way back, be sure to stop at the small village of Biriatou (very beautiful church, town hall and pelota court) and have a drink at the inn if it is open.

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Nanard40
Nanard40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike offering stunning views on clear days of Hendaye Bay on one side and the Ibardin foothills on the other. This hike was done as an extension of the "Le Calvaire de Biriatou" hike.

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cloclo
cloclo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Under beautiful sunshine, we discovered this lovely hiking trail, which is very well marked, offers great views and is varied. If there has been a lot of rain, be careful of mud, but otherwise there are no particular difficulties. I highly recommend it.

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caouec
caouec

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

pleasant hike, beautiful view at the summit
if it rains in the days before your hike, then on the way back, take the track that leaves from the Pitarque Pass rather than the path (passages 7 and 8) as there is a risk of significant mud
the track arrives at point 2 in any case and is not unpleasant

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