Ylläs: Northern Lights Dinner with Snowcat Ride

The mountain ride is part of dinner. This 2.5-hour evening outing pairs a snowcat trip from Ylläs Ski Resort with a buffet of Lappish dishes at Ylläskammi restaurant, perched near the top of Ylläs fell. I like the unusual transport and the chance to watch for northern lights during the ride and meal. The main catch is comfort: one snowcat may carry around 25 people, and frozen windows or a faulty heater can spoil the view.

I also like that the dinner has real local flavor, including reindeer, salmon, root vegetables, cheese, and a welcome drink. The food and friendly restaurant staff earn the warmest praise, while the ride itself can feel cramped rather than magical if the vehicle is full or the weather is poor.

Key points to know before booking

• Snowcat ride to Ylläs fell: The one-way journey takes about 15 minutes from the Ylläsjärvi ski area.
• Dinner at Ylläskammi 718: You dine beside a blazing fireplace in a modern, cozy mountain restaurant.
• Lappish buffet: Expect soup, starters, reindeer or salmon, mashed potatoes, root vegetables, cheese, and a small mousse-style dessert.
• Northern lights are possible, not promised: You can look for them outside and during the journey, but the sky must cooperate.
• A $149 evening outing: The price covers the return snowcat ride, welcome drink, and buffet, but personal expenses and other drinks cost extra.
• Warm clothing matters: This is a winter mountain activity, and the outdoor portions can be cold.

Meeting the snowcat at Ylläs Ski Resort

Your evening begins at the parking lot beside the Children Area of Ylläs Ski Resort in Ylläsjärvi. Look for the pickup point next to the chairlift base station. This detail matters because Ylläs has more than one ski-area reference point, and arriving at the wrong part of the resort could make the start needlessly stressful.

The ride is operated in Finnish and English. The driver handles the transport, while the restaurant staff take care of the meal at the top. Since the total outing lasts about 2.5 hours, this is an easy addition to a winter holiday rather than a full-night commitment.

I would arrive with your warm clothes already on. Bring a proper winter coat, gloves, hat, and sturdy footwear. The supplied instructions only require warm clothing, but the practical reason is clear: you will be outside at a fell-top restaurant and may step out to look for the northern lights.

What the 15-minute snowcat ride is really like

The snowcat is the evening’s most unusual feature. Instead of taking an ordinary car or simply eating at the resort, you climb into a tracked vehicle used for snowy mountain conditions. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the top of Ylläs fell, then roughly the same time to return after dinner.

On paper, this sounds like a scenic winter journey. In good conditions, you can watch the snowy scenery pass by and scan the sky for green or white arcs. The ride gives the evening a sense of occasion, especially if you have never traveled in a snowcat before.

The practical side is less polished. One account described about 25 people packed into the vehicle with little room and windows too frozen to see through. Another reported that the heater was not working, which caused the windows to freeze and erased the views. These problems may not happen every night, but they are worth considering before you pay for a scenic ride.

I would treat the snowcat as transport with character, not as a guaranteed sightseeing vehicle. You may get clear windows and a memorable view. You may also get a crowded, chilly ride with limited visibility. If your main goal is a comfortable mountain ascent, the snowcat may disappoint. If you enjoy unusual vehicles and can tolerate a short ride in a group, it adds a fun twist.

Reaching Ylläskammi 718 at the top

The restaurant is called Ylläskammi 718, named for its elevation. It offers the warm contrast you want after a winter ride: a fireplace, a cozy interior, and a meal built around Finnish Lapland.

The setting is one of the strongest parts of the outing. The restaurant has been described as modern and comfortable, while the mountain location gives the dinner a special feel even if the northern lights stay hidden. On a clear night, the views from the top of Ylläs can be a major part of the experience.

You receive a welcome drink on arrival. Other drinks are not included, so keep some money available if you want anything beyond the included beverage. Personal expenses are also separate.

The atmosphere is informal and suitable for couples, families, and small groups who want a distinctive dinner without committing to a long wilderness excursion. The meal is indoors, but the northern-lights search means you should be ready to go outside when conditions look promising.

The buffet: a useful taste of Lapland

The food is the clearest reason to book this experience even on a cloudy night. The meal is not just a generic buffet at a ski resort. It includes regional dishes and familiar sides that give you a chance to try several northern Finnish flavors in one sitting.

The dinner has been described as including:

• Soup
• A starter buffet
• Sautéed reindeer or salmon
• Mashed potatoes
• Root vegetables
• Cheese
• A small mousse-style dessert

The exact service may vary, but the structure gives you a good sense of what to expect. The soup and starters provide a warm beginning, while the main course offers a choice between reindeer and salmon. The reindeer is the more distinctive option for anyone curious about Lappish cuisine. Salmon is the safer choice if you prefer a familiar fish dish.

You should not expect a fine-dining tasting menu. This is a generous, regional buffet designed to feed people after a winter outing. One meal was described as tasty and plentiful but not exceptional. That is a fair way to frame it. The food earns strong praise, especially from people who enjoy local specialties, but the evening’s value comes from the combination of food, setting, transport, and northern-lights chance.

Service can also be busy. One account noted that the staff were friendly but stretched, with a need for another waiter. That should not be confused with poor hospitality. The staff are often praised for being welcoming and attentive, but a full restaurant can mean slower service at certain points.

Hunting for northern lights without false promises

The northern lights are the emotional center of this outing, but they remain a natural event. The experience gives you several chances to look: during the snowcat ride, from the fell-top setting, and outside after you have eaten.

A clear sky is the key factor. Clouds, snow, and weak aurora activity can prevent a sighting, and no dinner excursion can change that. You should book this for the complete evening, not as a guaranteed aurora tour.

The reward can be huge. One fortunate evening produced a particularly memorable display, and the chance to step outside from a warm restaurant makes the sighting feel even better. You are not standing in a dark field for hours waiting. You are eating, warming up, and checking the sky at sensible points.

If the lights do not appear, Ylläskammi still provides a worthwhile destination. The restaurant, food, and ride give the evening a purpose beyond aurora hunting. That makes this a safer choice than an activity built only around the sky.

The ride back down to Ylläsjärvi

After dinner, you return by snowcat to the same pickup area at Ylläs Ski Resort. The downhill ride also takes about 15 minutes, bringing the complete transport time to roughly 30 minutes.

This return trip may feel shorter because the main event is over, but it can also be the colder leg if you have spent time outside looking at the sky. Keep your coat and gloves handy rather than packing them away during dinner.

The ride back is not designed as a separate tour stop. You should think of it as the final part of the evening transfer. If the vehicle is crowded or the windows freeze again, the return may be more practical than scenic. Still, the unusual journey gives the outing a satisfying beginning and end.

Is $149 a fair price?

At $149 per person, this is not a cheap dinner. The cost includes the return snowcat ride, welcome drink, and buffet meal, but not extra drinks or personal spending.

The value depends on what you want from the night. If you only want a meal, you can likely find simpler dining for less. If you want a guaranteed northern-lights sighting, the price also involves risk because the aurora cannot be controlled.

I think the price makes more sense if you value the whole package: a tracked snowcat ride, a mountain restaurant, local food, and the chance to see the sky from Ylläs fell. The restaurant location is difficult to reproduce on your own, and the transport is part of the novelty.

The value is strongest for someone who would otherwise pay separately for a special dinner and an evening winter excursion. It is weaker for anyone who dislikes group transport, crowded vehicles, or uncertain weather. The 4.7 rating from 13 ratings suggests strong overall satisfaction, but the individual experiences show why expectations matter.

Who will enjoy this Ylläs evening most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a relaxed introduction to Lapland food and scenery without a demanding outdoor activity. The ride is short, the dinner is indoors, and the total duration fits neatly into a holiday schedule.

It also suits families and couples looking for a memorable night that does not require skiing. The snowcat gives children and first-time visitors something unusual to talk about, while the restaurant offers a warm place to sit and eat.

You may want to skip it if you need a quiet, private meal or dislike being packed into a shared vehicle. You should also be cautious if the ride itself is your main reason for booking. The snowcat experience can be fun, but it is not guaranteed to offer clear windows, roomy seating, or perfect heating.

The food is a better reason to book than the transport alone. The strongest parts of the evening are the cozy restaurant, friendly service, generous regional buffet, and the chance to step outside beneath the sky.

Practical tips for a smoother evening

Arrive at the correct pickup point beside the Children Area and chairlift base station at Ylläs Ski Resort in Ylläsjärvi. Give yourself enough time to locate it without rushing.

Wear your warmest practical clothing for the whole outing. Do not dress only for the restaurant, because the snowcat ride and aurora checks can be cold.

Keep your expectations flexible. Clear weather may reveal wonderful views and northern lights, but frozen windows or a full vehicle can limit the ride. The dinner remains the dependable part of the evening.

If you want drinks beyond the welcome beverage, plan to pay separately. The buffet is included, but other drinks and personal expenses are not.

The activity runs during the winter season, and starting times vary. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility while planning.

Should you book the Ylläs Northern Lights Dinner?

Book it if you want a warm, food-focused Lapland evening with an unusual 15-minute snowcat ride and a real chance to see the northern lights. The regional buffet and Ylläskammi setting give the experience value even when the sky stays dark.

Skip it if you want a private ride, guaranteed views, or a polished scenic transfer. The snowcat can be crowded, and one poor heater or frozen windows can change the mood quickly.

For most visitors staying around Ylläs, I think this is a good special-night choice. Go for the combination of reindeer or salmon, a mountain restaurant, and the possibility of aurora overhead. Treat the snowcat as a quirky bonus rather than the entire point, and you will make a better decision.

FAQ

Where does the snowcat ride begin?

The meeting point is in the parking lot beside the Children Area of Ylläs Ski Resort in Ylläsjärvi, next to the chairlift base station.

How long does the complete experience last?

The snowcat ride and dinner together take approximately 2.5 hours.

How long is the snowcat ride each way?

The one-way ride to the top of Ylläs fell takes approximately 15 minutes.

What food is served at dinner?

The meal is a buffet of Lappish delicacies. It has been described as including soup, starter dishes, sautéed reindeer or salmon, mashed potatoes, root vegetables, cheese, and a small mousse-style dessert.

Is the northern lights sighting guaranteed?

No. You can look for the northern lights during the snowcat journey and from the restaurant, but sightings depend on conditions.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a return snowcat ride from Ylläs Ski Resort, a welcome drink, and the buffet meal. Personal expenses and other drinks are not included.