Marla - Roche Plate

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Stage 3 of the 6-day route in the Cirque de Mafate.
On this stage, we’ll make our way from Marla to Roche Plate via the superb site of the 3 Roches. It is here that the Galets River disappears into an impressive crevasse.
The Roche Plate site is situated directly below the Maïdo viewpoint.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour du cirque de Mafate en 6 jours

Details

n°41655
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 316 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 831 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,616 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,101 m
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Photos

Path to Roche Plate
Les 3 Roches
Descent towards the river of pebbles

Description of the walk

(S) From our lodge, La Miellerie de Marla, we continue in the opposite direction to Marla, following theGR®3for the entirety of today’s route. We start with a good descent.
The path, theGR®3, descends to the Rivière des Galets, which we follow.

(1) Leave the path that climbs up to the right towards the Plaine aux Sables (option to climb up to La Nouvelle).
Continue along theGR®3to the site of "Les Trois Roches".

(2) A very pretty spot, made up of large slabs (watch out for the water level). We were there during a dry spell, so there was no problem crossing the river. In the event of flooding, it would certainly be a different matter.

(3) The Rivière des Galets flows into and disappears down a large crevice.
Make the most of the setting for a picnic, then head back towards Roche Plate via the opposite slope (GR®3).

(4) The path follows the rampart (below Maïdo) to Roche Plate.

(5) Turn right. We reach our lodge, Le Mahafaty, where we will spend the night (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,616 m - Lodge, La Miellerie de Marla - Marla
  2. 1 : km 1.57 - alt. 1,306 m - Rivière des Galets
  3. 2 : km 3.44 - alt. 1,227 m - Trois Roches
  4. 3 : km 3.74 - alt. 1,247 m - Cascade des Trois Roches
  5. 4 : km 5.53 - alt. 1,301 m - Le Rempart beneath Maido
  6. 5 : km 8.09 - alt. 1,117 m - Roche Plate
  7. E : km 8.28 - alt. 1,101 m - The Mahafaty lodge

Notes

We spend the night at Mahafaty de Roche Plate. A lovely view of the valley and the next day’s route, very welcoming. A very pleasant evening, a cosy lodge (a small dormitory and a double room).
Excellent food and very welcoming hosts.
No water source or shelter along the route.

Worth a visit

Be careful when calculating the elevation gain/loss, as these figures are overestimated. This is likely due to the Maïdo ridge that we follow. The altitude (highest point) given is incorrect.
According to locals, the elevation gain for this stage is between 400 and 500 metres.

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
johan33510
johan33510

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Hike completed on a 5-day circuit in Mafate, a beautiful hike with lovely views.
Walking sticks are necessary if you are not used to long descents.

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papywata
papywata

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk too, but a very, very long descent.
It’s always the same for us (we’re very slow on the way down), so it took us longer than the time given in the guide.
We didn’t have walking poles, which didn’t make the route any easier.
No truly vertiginous sections, but two spots where you have to do a bit of scrambling.
From Marla to 3 Roches, it’s a really steep descent. After that it’s more relaxed, with some lovely views, particularly of the Maïdo wall.
Then it’s an ascent to Roche Plate, but it’s fine.

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Sylvia32
Sylvia32

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Up to the site of the three rocks, the walk is fairly easy. On the path leading to Roche Plate, there’s a bar serving a selection of drinks (the homemade lemonade is delicious!). After that, the going gets steeper as you make your way to Roche Plate, a small islet set in a stunning location.

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cedric_1012
cedric_1012

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A short and pleasant walk. From Marla to Trois Roches, the route is almost entirely downhill and the path is wide and easy to follow. After Trois Roches, the main challenge of the day is the climb up a stream bed, but it remains very manageable.
As the walk is short, you can either take your time before leaving Marla, or follow it up with something else once you reach Roche Plate. We opted for the latter and walked around the Bronchard plateau, which is an easy and quick walk from Roche Plate with lovely views to boot.

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cathoun
cathoun

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The estimated time given seems to be aimed at very fit hikers. The time given by the ONF is significantly longer.

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