Yllas (36 – 52 km from Kittila) attracts tourists by the longest prepared downhill trails in Finland (total of 42). The resort is formed by two villages: Äkäslompolo village is located on the northern side of the Ylläs hill and Ylläsjärvi village on the southern side. Yllas is the center of the whole network of trails connected with the neighboring resorts including Levi. The total length of cross country routes is 250 km. Often Yllas is the starting point of instructor-led one-week skiing tours (full equipment, visiting traditional Lapponian restaurants). Tourists from the Central Europe like to spend Christmas holidays in Yllas, since hotel programs here are always interesting and original. The Christmas mass is served on the hill side; it follows the trip to the forest to get a Christmas tree, its decoration, and collective cooking of traditional pastries. In Yllas Christmas preparations are the most thorough comparing with other holidays, since Lapland is the residence of Joulu Pukki (Santa Claus). The guests of Lapponian resorts have the unique opportunity to get acquainted with Santa Claus and even visit the house where he stays during his holiday journeys. There is special excursion that includes traveling through primeval forest where the gnome’s tracks can be discerned on primeval snow, drinking mulled wine and tasting Christmas sweeties at Santa’s, visiting the store of “gnome’s made” souvenirs and, smorgasbord in the evening. Yllas does not lose its attractiveness in other months. There are a lot of perfect places for ice fishing in its surroundings. Local hotels are usually entire complexes of cottages or comfortable two- and three-storied buildings. Though there are a lot of swimming pools and bathes, guests usually choose traditional Finnish herbal sauna. After short introduction one can feel the curative power of local herbs, extracts, and oils.
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