Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
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Finland's third-largest national park forms a long, thin area running from Hetta in the north
to the Ylläs ski area in the south. The main attraction is the excellent 55km trekking route
from the village of Hetta to Pallastunturi in the middle of the park, where there's a hotel, the
Pallastunturi Luontokeskus nature centre and transport connections. You can continue from
here to Ylläs, although there are few facilities on that section. In winter Pallastunturi fell is
a small but popular place for both cross-country and downhill skiing.
Activities
Trekking
The 55km
trek/ski from Hetta to Pallastunturi
(or vice versa) is a Lapland classic and of-
fers some of the best views in the country from the top of the fells. While there's plenty of
up and down, it's not a difficult route, though long stretches of it are quite exposed to wind
and rain; pack weatherproof gear. The route is well marked, and there are several wilderness
huts along the way. The popularity of the trek means huts get pretty crowded at peak times.
See
www.outdoors.fi
for the route and wilderness huts.
The Hetta trailheads are separated from town by the lake. Various operators in town will
run you across (around €10). Some can also drive your car to Pallastunturi while you are
doing the trek (around €80). One such operator is
Paavontalo
( 0405-765-721)
. If going
the other way, there's a list of boat operators to phone when you reach the lake.
From Pallastunturi you can extend your trek a further 72km to the park's southernmost
border, by the ski resorts at Ylläs.
Sleeping
Hotelli Pallas
HOTEL
( 016-323-355;
www.laplandhotels.com
;
Pallastunturi;s/d winter €104/131, summer €78/92;
Dec-late Sep;
)
