Join our backcountry skiing tour in Ylläs and explore the peaceful winter landscapes of Lapland on skis. Starting from the village of Äkäslompolo, we head into the quiet trails of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, far from the main tracks. This guided experience takes you through gentle forest routes, frozen lakes and open landscapes, offering a true sense of freedom in the Lapland wilderness. The pace is easy and adapted to the group, making it suitable even if you’re new to Backcountry skiing, and focused on enjoying the rhythm of moving through the snow-covered landscape.
From
135€ per person
5 hours
Authentic Lapland wilderness, away from crowds
Small group
Limited to 8 participants
Pickup included
Free pickup from Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Discover Lapland on skis through one of the most beautiful and untouched areas of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, far from the main trails and crowds.
Duration 5 hours
A half-day backcountry skiing experience through forests and open landscapes, with time to enjoy the rhythm of gliding across the snow.
Technique & local guiding
Your guide will introduce you to the basics of backcountry skiing if needed and share insights about Arctic wildlife, nature, and local stories that bring the landscape to life.
Small group
Limited to 8 participants for a relaxed pace, more support, and a truly personal experience in the wilderness.
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Pickup included
Free pickup from Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi.
We offer flexible pickup options depending on where you stay in Ylläs.
Our main meeting point. From here, we drive together to the starting point (5–10 minutes).
Alternative pickup, approx. 20 minutes before the main departure time.
Available in Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi. Exact pickup time is confirmed after booking.
Meet your guide, get your equipment, and ease into the experience with a short introduction to backcountry skiing and basic technique before heading out.
Step onto your skis and begin gliding through quiet forest trails and gentle terrain. As you move, your guide shares stories about Arctic wildlife, nature, and life in Lapland.
Pause in a traditional wooden kota for a warm lunch and hot drinks by the fire. A relaxed moment to slow down, warm up, and enjoy the silence of the forest.
We begin the journey back on a different route, gliding across open landscapes with wide views over the surrounding fells and frozen wilderness.
Enjoy a relaxed glide through snowy forests and quiet terrain as we make our way back to the starting point. The experience comes to a calm finish, leaving you refreshed, recharged, and inspired by the simplicity and beauty of Lapland’s winter nature.
The itinerary and order of activities may be adjusted based on weather and logistics to ensure an optimal and safe experience.
Begin your day by meeting your guide at one of our meeting points. After a short drive to the starting point, we step onto the skis and your experience begins. Your guide will equip you with Nordic backcountry skis and poles, and introduce you to the basic technique so you feel comfortable from the start. The pace is always adapted to the group, allowing everyone to find their rhythm.
From the first movements on the skis, you’ll quickly feel the calm of Lapland. We follow quiet forest trails through snow-covered pine and birch forests, far from crowded areas, where the only sound is the soft glide of skis on snow. Along the way, your guide shares stories about the region, from Arctic wildlife and how people live here in winter, to local traditions and legends that bring the landscape to life. If we’re lucky, we may even spot fresh animal tracks crossing the trail.
About halfway through the tour, we stop at a traditional forest kota, a cozy wooden shelter. Here, we light a fire, grill local sausages, and enjoy hot drinks in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. It’s a moment to slow down, warm up, and simply enjoy being out here.
The way back follows a different route through open landscapes, with wide views over the surrounding fells and frozen wilderness. This is often the moment when you start to feel more comfortable on the skis, finding your rhythm, moving more naturally, and beginning to enjoy the simple flow of Nordic skiing. Step by step, we follow quiet forest trails back to the starting point. Skis gliding through silence, the landscape slowly passing by. Simple moments that stay with you.
Backcountry skiing is one of the most traditional ways to explore winter in Lapland. Unlike downhill skiing, it takes place on gentle terrain, mostly flat, where you move across snow-covered forests, frozen landscapes, and open fells using lightweight Nordic backcountry skis designed for both packed trails and softer snow. It focuses more on rhythm and movement than on technical performance.
Ylläs is one of the best places in Finnish Lapland to experience it. Located within Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, the area offers a unique mix of mixed terrain, from prepared forest tracks to untouched snowy sections, allowing for a varied and dynamic journey through the Lapland wilderness.
The experience is designed to remain relaxed and adaptable, with time to learn, adjust your technique, and enjoy the surroundings at your own pace. It is accessible to beginners, and no previous skiing experience is required. That said, having some experience with any type of skiing can make the learning process smoother, but most importantly, a sense of curiosity and adventure is all you need to enjoy the experience.
Whether you are trying backcountry skiing for the first time or looking for a peaceful and active way to discover Lapland, this is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the Ylläs region in winter.
Yes, the tour is designed to be accessible even if you’ve never tried Nordic skiing before. We start with a short introduction to the technique, and the pace is always adapted to the group. That said, backcountry skiing is a skill-based activity: some people pick it up quickly, others need a bit more time. While previous skiing experience can help, what matters most is being open to learning something new in an outdoor environment, even if you’ve never skied before. If you’re comfortable being active outdoors and open to a bit of adventure, you’ll be absolutely fine.
Staying warm and comfortable is essential. We recommend layering: a thermal base layer, an insulating mid-layer, and a warm outer layer such as a ski jacket and ski pants or a down jacket. Warm gloves, a hat, and winter boots are essential as well. We provide backcountry skis and poles, and if needed, winter boots can be rented on request.
Winter temperatures in Lapland usually range between -5°C and -25°C, but colder days are possible. The air is dry, and because backcountry skiing keeps you moving continuously, most people stay warm with proper clothing. We also take breaks when needed, including a stop at a forest shelter with a fire to warm up.
You can cancel your booking up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Simply contact us by email or phone, and your refund will be processed immediately. If weather conditions affect safety, we will offer either a reschedule or a full refund.
This experience takes you away from busy areas and into quiet forest trails and open Arctic landscapes, far from the crowds. We explore in small groups, at a relaxed pace, with time to learn, move, and simply take in the surroundings. It’s also a great opportunity to try something new, backcountry skiing, while discovering some of the most beautiful winter scenery in Lapland. It’s not a lesson and not a performance, but a guided journey through nature, where the focus is on movement, simplicity, and the atmosphere of the North.
Based on 21 reviews
5
Henk - Netherlands
March 2026
alles was oke
5
Guilhem - France
March 2026
Nous avons vécu une aventure authentique encadrée par notre guide Kevin , très sympathique et professionnel, qui a su nous recommander de super activités pour la suite. Je recommande !!
5
Steven - United Kingdom
March 2026
We booked the snow shoeing and the Nordic skiing with Kevin - both were exceptional, we loved both tours. From the start Kevin’s communication was excellent and very personal, nothing too much trouble. His passion and understanding of local culture and nature was impressive. Highly recommended.
5
Iris - Germany
March 2026
Wir haben die Guided Nordic Skiing Tour in Lapland Wilderness unternommen. Es war großartig. Die speziellen Ski ermöglichen ein Wandern durch den Tiefschnee. Die unberührte Natur, die Stille im Wald, das Ziehen einer eigen Spur im Tiefschnee - all das macht diese Tour perfekt und zu einem einzigartigen Erlebnis. Wir können diese Aktivität aus Überzeugung empfehlen.
5
Clara - Germany
February 2026
5
Melvin - Singapore
February 2026
Kevin was encouraging throughout and was an excellent guide
5
Andreas - Italy
February 2026
We had an amazing time, stunning landscapes and good company. Thanks a lot to our guide Kevin! :-)
5
Marianne - Switzerland
February 2026
Ganze Tour Führung, hat viel über die Natur erzählt und uns furch wunderschöne Natur geführt.
5
Delphine - France
February 2026
Merci à Kevin et NordX Adventures pour ce séjour de rêve. De la préparation du voyage à l'accueil sur mesure, nous avons apprécié chaque moment. Nous nous sommes sentis privilégiés de découvrir cette région en famille (cela contraste avec les grands groupes que nous avons croisé). Les 2 sorties en ski de randonnée furent magiques, la journée pour apprécier les paysages de Laponie et le soir sous les aurores boréales. Encore merci, c'était parfait!
5
Agathe - France
February 2026
5
Katrin- Germany
February 2026
Es war eine wunderschöne Tour, hatte das grosse Glück einer Einzeltour. Kevin ist super individuell mit mir im Gelände unterwegs gewesen. Das war ein unbezahlbares Erlebnis
5
Anna - Germany
February 2026
It was an amazing tour through the wonderful nature of Pallas Nationalpark. perfect scenery, nice break in between for warm tea and tasty sausage. Can highly recommend doing that tour. It is also doable for beginners with no experience in nordic skiing. Guide Kevin gives a very good introduction and isaverylovelyguide with lots of experience and knowledge of the area.
5
Nicola - Germany
February 2026
Kevin war als Guide super. Er hat so eine offene und herzliche Art, dass man sich direkt wohlfühlt. Die Landschaft war ein Traum! Die Tour hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht.
5
Sandrine - France
February 2026
Des paysages magnifiques, un guide très sympa et passionné, un petit groupe, une bonne organisation, une bonne ambiance, bref que du positif. Nous avons réellement passé un très bon moment. Merci beaucoup
5
Michelle - Netherlands
February 2026
We had a great experience! Very good knowledgeable guide and beautiful trek. Great way to explore the beauty of Lapland. Would definitely recommend!
5
Axelle - France
February 2026
5
Victoria Maria Villa - Argentina
January 2026
It was amazing! Kevin was an excellent guide. The best adventure ever! I highly recomend de tour. Thanks
5
Lara - Germany
January 2026
Richtig tolle Tour durch die Natur, der allerbeste Tourguide Kevin hat uns super viele interessante Fakten über den Wald und die Tiere dort erzählt. In der Pause gab es in einer süßen Hütte am Feuer super leckere Würstchen (auch die vegetarischen waren sehr gut) und Tee. Kevin ist auf uns alle individuell eingegangen und auch schwächere Fahrer wurden gut unterstützt, sodass die Tour wirklich für jeden was ist! Pausen für Fotos waren auch gar kein Problem und Kevin hat immer gerne geholfen beim Fotos machen. Wir hatten wirklich super viel Spaß und können die Tour nur weiterempfehlen 🥰
5
Margaux - France
December 2025
Superbe excursion à ski de randonnée avec Kevin ! Il nous a amené dans des forêts magiques, nous a appris les techniques pour bien skier ! Nous recommandons totalement. Petit arrêt en fin de randonnée dans un café très mignon pour boire un glogi et des pâtisseries locales! Merci Kevin !!!
5
Sedef - Germany
December 2025
10/10 highly recommend this tour! We booked very spontaneously the evening before, and everything still worked out perfectly. Our tour guide Kevin even picked us up from our accommodation. Even though we had no skiing experience at all, Kevin explained and showed us everything, so we had a lot of fun skiing through the untouched and stunning national park. Kevin was a very kind and calm guide, and he made sure there was a great atmosphere throughout the entire five hours. He always made sure to adjust the pace and difficulty level to our needs, and he also shared some interesting facts about the nature, animal traces and life in Finland. For our lunch break, we stopped at a beautiful fire hut and enjoyed delicious sausages while having some nice conversations by the fire. We really loved the tour, it is 100% worth the money! We even received some photos and a video at the end!
5
Maksim - Germany
December 2025
Das war eine sehr schöne tour. Man sied viel von der Natur und überquärt eingeschneite Sümfe. Ein mega Erlebnis mit einem sehr guten und freundlichen Guide. Fanke Kevin für diese Erfahrung 😀
