Yllas is a popular ski resort located in the municipality of Kolari, at the Swedish border in Finland. The municipality is largely forest and swamps with some fells in the west. The most important location is the area around Yllästunturi (Ylläs fell).
There are two villages near Ylläs: Äkäslompolo on the north side and Ylläsjärvi in the south. They are connected by a 11 km road, around the side of the fell. Both villages derive much of their income from tourism.
Ylläs is a popular cross country and downhill skiing centre. The area's marketing slogan is "Ylläs on ykkönen!" (Finnish for "Ylläs is number one!"). Many companies in the vicinity of Ylläs have taken the fell's name as part of their own, such as the Ylläksen Nousu sports club in Äkäslompolo. Ylläs is the highest fell in Finland where you can find skiing lifts.
PLACE TO VISIT
Lainio Snow Village is located near Ylläs, somewhat halfway between Ylläsjarvi and Kittilä.
St. Lauri's Chapel is located in Äkäslompolo.
WHAT TO DO
Winter sports - Ylläs is Finland's largest downhill ski resort in terms of total drop (465 m) and single slope length (3000 m). There are 37 slopes in total.
The most important locations are Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi villages located on different sides of Yllästunturi. Around the fells there is the largest network of ski tracks (330 kilometers) in Finland.
Currently, several T-lifts and one chairlift line are available. The chairlift line only operates at good weather. There is also one gondola lift line operating at Ylläsjarvi and it was opened on February 9, 2008 at 12 o'clock noon.
Nearby Levi offers more comfortable lifts with 45 slopes and better infrastructure, however total drop in Levi is only 325 m and longest slope is 2000 m.
Both resorts maintain snow parks for freestyle snowboarding. These parks have rather large ice-runs, but jibbing rails and half-pipes are usually absent.
Snow safari - Ylläs travel agencies offer practice of traditional Lappish activities like husky or reindeer sleigh trips, visits to reindeer farms and traditional Sami yarangas, as well as snowmobile safaris.
Concerts - The Ylläs area hosts two major music festivals: Ylläs Jazz Blues in February and Ylläs Soikoon in July.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Kittilä airport is about 50km west from Ylläs. There you may take a bus or airport taxi. Another possibility is to fly in Sweden from Stockholm to Luleå and from there to Pajala airport. There you may take an airport taxi for the 30km trip to Finland.
By train - Kolari is the northernmost train station in Finland. During the winter season there is a direct train connection daily from Helsinki via Tampere; at 995 kilometers, this is the longest single train route in Finland. An overnight trip takes 13 hours and is most comfortable in a sleeping cabin. Sometimes the train contains a special club car serving as a nightclub during the trip.
By car - Drive by E75 from Helsinki to the north. Switch to E8 after Kemi. Drive to Kolari and follow signs to either Äkäslompolo or Ylläsjärvi
