Yllas Ski Holidays

This gorgeous Lapland resort (pronounced “U-las”) has welcomed skiers since the 1930s and is the biggest of the 35 ski areas in Finland, home to the country’s longest slope, the 3km Jättipitkä run (which translates to ‘enormously long’!).

The resort is split into two villages on either side of the region’s highest “fell” - a smooth mountain rising above the treeline. Both villages have remained true to their roots - Ylläsjärvi in the south and Äkäslompolo in the north – and both are authentic, beautiful and unpretentious places to visit. The cosy log cabins are set in spectacular natural scenery in an area that is one of the last, untouched wildernesses in the world, with more reindeer than people...

The slopes are a short bus ride from the village centres, although you can usually ski all the way back or cross-country ski straight from your doorstep.

Finnish resorts are vastly different to the southern European ones that many might be familiar with, from landscape and climate to infrastructure. They’re much lower - at 718m, Ylläs’ peak has the highest skiing in the country but being so much further north means that the snow cover is even more reliable. The temperatures rarely reach 0°C so the snow conditions are perfect as the lack of melting means that ice is not a problem, although you’ll have to make sure to wrap up warm!

If you’re getting a bit cold, head to one of the big fire pits marked on the piste map at the bottom of some of the slopes (eg. Jättipitkä and Harrinrinne), where locals and tourists meet to warm up and toast something tasty.

Though it’s a world away from home, the resort is easily accessible, you can fly to Kittilä which is just a half an hour transfer to Ylläsjärvi and a further 15 minutes to Äkäslompolo, or catch the overnight train from Helsinki to Kolari which is only 35km away.

With 63km of downhill slopes, the skiing is fairly compact although over 300km of designated tracks make this one of the best cross-country destinations in the world.

The uncrowded, perfectly groomed slopes are a beginner’s dream and make learning to ski a fun and relaxing experience. The ski schools meet on both sides of the mountain and speak excellent English with group lessons normally having small class sizes to give a personal feel.

Early intermediates will love the wide, cruising runs which are perfect for building confidence. One of Ylläs’ best features is the lack of queues and piste congestion - you can really get used to the feeling of having the big pistes all to yourself! The many long slopes are great for picking up a bit of speed, especially the Jättipitkä red which is the longest in the country and a definite must for anyone visiting.

There isn’t a great deal of demanding on-piste for advanced skiers, although the World Cup and Super G slopes are both very pacey and should get anyone’s pulses racing. The off-piste is best for more experienced skiers, as the low temperatures keep the snow in great condition and powder remains powder for much longer.

For freestyle enthusiasts, Ylläs is home to 4 snow parks on both sides of the mountain, 2 for beginners and children and 2 bigger parks for advanced riders with jumps, boxes and rails.

29 of the slopes are floodlit to accommodate the lack of daylight in the winter months, and 2 of the 4 snow parks are also lit up so you can throw some shapes no matter what time of year it is.

Whether you’re an experienced cross-country pro or looking to give it a go for the first time, this is the place to do it. 330km of endless tracks makeup Finland’s biggest network and let you take a different route each day. Refreshment huts, cafés and campfires along the trails keep you going throughout and give you the chance to take a well-deserved rest!

Both villages are sleepy and traditional so while there are nice places to go for a drink, those looking for a European party scene might be somewhat disappointed. The focus is more on relaxation and entertainment away from the slopes of which there’s more than enough to keep all ages very happy. The Akäs hotel is most popular for a few drinks with a dance floor and club inside, while the restaurants in the resort serve all kinds of local delicacies – reindeer and freshly caught fish are both highly recommended!

This is said to be Santa’s original hometown so you can’t come here without paying him a visit. Take a snowmobile to a remote log cabin where Father Christmas himself is waiting with his trusty elves to meet the children and give out presents and hot chocolate.

A stand-out highlight is undoubtedly the opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Street lights are turned off at 10 pm every evening between October and February in order to see the phenomena even more clearly. Unfortunately, this incredible experience is by no means guaranteed so if you do manage to see the Northern Lights count yourself as particularly lucky!

There are plenty of other ways to explore the beautiful Finnish scenery including seemingly endless snowmobile rides through forests and over frozen lakes. Alternatively, take a reindeer or husky safari and be pulled through the landscape in the same way as the Sami people have done for hundreds of years. Having a pack of excitable huskies at your disposables may seem intimidating, but soon the thrill of controlling your very own dogsled will have you hooked.

A visit to the magical Snow Village is also a must – over 1.8 million kgs of snow and ice are used to construct a huge village with a unique theme every year. Stay for a night, have dinner in the restaurant, party in the disco or even get married in the chapel if it takes your fancy! Whatever you choose, this enchanted palace will leave you with some unforgettable memories.

Known as the land of extremes, one of the customary traditions is to sit in the roasting sauna, then cut a hole in a frozen lake and jump in the ice-cold water. Then return to the sauna and repeat... sounds a bit mad but it’s said to be good for you! Also, check out the first Saunagondola in the world. Yes, a sauna-gondola. 4 people can take a 20 minute round trip from the top of the mountain down to the resort and back again in the first-ever sauna built as a bubble lift. It’s a strange but breath-taking experience to be sat in a traditional Finnish sauna 700m high, looking down on the trees and spectacular landscape.