Xoldoko Gaina (summit of Xoldo)

de fr

Once you’ve made the effort to climb to the top, you’re rewarded with a superb view of the Basque coast.
You have to look past the rather unattractive scenery at the start with the high-voltage power line.

Details

n°2873795
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.15 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,552 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,526 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,594 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 174 ft
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Photos

The Summit of Xoldo
The snow-capped peaks
The Jaizkibel and the Bidasoa
The Basque coast and the beaches of the Landes

Description of the walk

Head towards Biriatou and park in the car park below the town hall.

(S/E) Take the steps and cross in front of the church, take the road to the left and continue to the edge of the village.

(1) Turn onto the road leading uphill to the right.

(2) Leave the road and follow the GR®10, which heads off to the right.

(3) Pass under the power line, walk alongside the pylon and continue to the left, on this path which winds its way towards a second pylon.

(4) Turn right onto a path that is slightly uphill at first, then head straight up the slope towards the summit.

(5) At the crossroads, continue straight on towards the summit.

(6) Turn back and head down the same steep path to the previous junction.

(5) Take the path leading off to the right towards the pass overlooked by a pylon.

(7) Turn left at the wide grassy pass onto the path that climbs back up to the crossroads you passed on the way up.

(4) Head back down to the village via the same path you took on the way out and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 177 ft - Car park beneath the town hall - Bidassoa (fleuve)
  2. 1 : mi 0.23 - alt. 236 ft - Road leading uphill to the right
  3. 2 : mi 0.38 - alt. 335 ft - GR10 path branching off to the right
  4. 3 : mi 0.62 - alt. 522 ft - Electricity pylon
  5. 4 : mi 1.03 - alt. 955 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  6. 5 : mi 1.39 - alt. 1,335 ft - Crossroads
  7. 6 : mi 1.69 - alt. 1,594 ft - Summit - Xoldokogaina
  8. 7 : mi 2.55 - alt. 801 ft - Wide grassy pass
  9. S/E : mi 4.15 - alt. 174 ft - Car park below the town hall

Notes

No water source.

February 2025: the path between ::7:: and ::4:: has been ruined by construction machinery; this section is now extremely muddy in wet weather.

Worth a visit

The village of Biriatou has a pelota court whose stands are the steps of the staircase leading up to the town hall.
In the village square, you have everything in one place: the town hall, the church, the pelota court and the inn; this is very typical of Basque villages.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Btz
Btz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Passage close to the high-voltage line

Machine-translated

housebidos
housebidos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A real treat

Machine-translated

hilaire.vachon
hilaire.vachon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful view of Figuier Bay. The high-voltage power line spoils the photos a bit. The descent down the stony path is a bit tricky (don’t forget your walking stick).

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

Perfect
Thank you

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello Hervé,

Your hike has been reviewed by three moderators, including myself, who was the last to review it. Indeed, during the review process, the word ‘summit’ was added. I understand the redundancy between ‘summit’ and ‘gaina’...

It is possible to change the title of a hike, even after it has been published. That is what I have just done, and I hope you are happy with it.

Machine-translated

Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

Hello Etienne,

Thank you for choosing my hike; the members of my hiking club whom I took up there on Monday really enjoyed it.

Why did you change my description and give it the name “Sommet d’Xoldoko Gaina”, which is unpronounceable and rather redundant, given that “Gaina” already means “summit” in Basque?

If “Summit” is necessary, then at least use “Summit of Xoldo” or, even better, include the translation “Summit of Xoldo – Xoldokogaina”.

Note that the X in Basque is pronounced like the CH in French, and that the suffix ko attached to the name Xoldo of this summit is the possessive marker; literally, Xoldoko Gaina translates as ‘Summit of Xoldo’.

The Basque language is complex and Basque speakers are rather particular about this.

Kind regards,

Hervé

Machine-translated

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