North of the peak, on the Malyovo Field plateau, lie the three Malyovishki Lakes. Southeast of Malyovitsa, in a deep cirque, lie the two Elenski Lakes. The area around the peak, together with the Malyovitsa resort, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Rila Mountains. This part of the mountain also offers excellent conditions for freestyle skiing and snowboarding, with a wide variety of routes for extreme descents.
One legend states that the peak’s name is linked to Malo Voivode—a fighter against the oppressors who, according to tradition, died somewhere in the Malyovitsa Valley. Another theory suggests that the name derives from the “Little Lakes,” as mountaineers call the lakes at the northeastern foot of the peak. On the oldest maps, the peak is marked as Malevitsa.
At the foot of Malyovitsa Peak lies the Malyovitsa Hut, a starting point for hikes to the summit. A marked trail leads from the hut to the peak through the glacial valley; this trail is part of the E4 international hiking route. From the Malyovitsa Ridge, the trail continues toward Razdel, the Ivan Vazov Hut, and the area of the Seven Rila Lakes, with a branch leading to the Rila Monastery.
The summit can be reached from the “Malyovitsa” Central Mountain School in the Mecha Polyana area; the hike takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes one way. The first 30–40 minutes are through the forest, after which the route continues entirely in the open.
