As a keen traveller, Vibert Noble enjoys visiting Lapland in January each year, snowshoeing, cross-country (rather than downhill) skiing and fat biking in the pristine, powder-white snow of the Ylläs region in the Seven Fells area around Äkäslompolo. Marking the point at which the country emerges from the Polar Night season into Midwinter, January presents ample opportunity to view the spectacular Northern Lights, a phenomenon Mr Noble has been fortunate enough to experience several times. This article will take a closer look at Ylläs, Finland’s largest ski resort.
The indigenous Sámi people describe eight weather seasons rather than our traditional four, and Ylläs offers great variety throughout the year. In early spring the region is flooded with light, with sunbeams reflecting off the sparkling white snowdrifts, presenting an ideal opportunity to hit the slopes for those so inclined or to take advantage of the increasing number of cross-country ski trails, winter hiking trails and fat biking trails opening up. As spring progresses the snow melts, flowing in small streams and feeding the rivers. Hiking in the fresh conditions of May to June, visitors can watch nature awaken from its winter slumber, with reindeers calving and migrating birds returning from their winter travels.
Summer in Ylläs is marked by the Nightless Night. Also known as the Midnight Sun, this period sees nature bursting into life. August marks harvest season, presenting opportunities for hunting and fishing as well as berry and mushroom picking. At this time of year, the days are warm and the nights cool, with the Northern Lights awakening on the first dark nights of autumn, presenting the most mesmerising shows of the year. Autumn is an annual highlight in Ylläs thanks to the spectacular leaf colours known as the Ruska, enticing hikers from far and wide to explore the picturesque natural scenery of the national park.
In Ylläs, the first snow falls in October to November, giving a hint of the winter ahead. Nighttime temperatures drop below zero and mornings glitter with ice, frost shrouding the trees and the ground.
In early winter, daylight diminishes once more in Ylläs as the Polar Night returns. Glimpses of sunbeams on the horizon are few and far between but uniquely colourful. After New Year, the days start getting longer again, with the increase in light inspiring people to become more active and the milder temperatures creating ideal conditions for touring the ski slopes and winter trails.
Rising between the authentic Lapland villages of Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi, Ylläs Fell offers a wonderland year-round, not just in the twinkling days of winter, with the region buzzing with sports, cultural and recreational events. For international arrivals, Kittilä airport operates flights to several European destinations in the summer season, as well as connections to several other Finnish airports. Alternatively, many visitors arrive in Ylläs via Helsinki, which can be reached at any time of year.
Sitting on the cusp of Fell Lapland, Central Lapland and the Tornio River, Ylläs is a delightfully scenic natural location. Here visitors can enjoy a gondola ride up the fell on a warm summer’s day. The region is also very popular with anglers, with the Tornio River’s placid pools and exciting rapids home to trophy salmon, perch, grayling and burbot.