Dude… The first time I heard about “saunagondola ski lift” I thought it must be a joke, but like so many times before I was wrong. The Saunagondola turned out to be a damn cool innovation and a real ski tourist magnet. I wanted to know more about this weird innovation, so I performed the traditional “sauna gondola” search in Google without much success. However, I found the contact information and decided to send email and ask for more, and I got an immediate reply.
Ylläs saunagondola is the first one in the world
I conversed with Aki Rundgren, the marketing manager at Ylläs ski resort in Finland. According to Mr. Rundgren, the saunagondola at Ylläs is the first one in the world and probably in the entire universe. There are four seats in the saunagondola and passangers can spend a maximum of 2 hours in the sauna. During these two hours passengers enjoy two rounds from the valley to the summit and back. One round takes about 15-20 minutes, and the distance from the starting point to the summit is two kilometers. During one round the saunagondola climbs 430 vertical meters.
You might think that it doesn’t sound so nice to be naked in a gondola while others are skiing all around you. Guess again! You don’t need to worry about being naked in the saunagondola because the windows are covered with dark shields. This means that the passengers in the saunagondola can see outside, but skiers outside cannot see inside the saunagondola. So you can be totally naked and enjoy a traditional Finnish sauna…
Actually, the saunagondola is not used during regular skiing hours. It is used only after skiers have left the slope, which in Finland is 7pm – 9pm in the winters and 4pm – 6pm in summer time. If it becomes too hot inside and you start feeling ill, just open the small window and breath fresh arctic air.
Unique ride in Saunagondola requires a bag of cash
So, how can you get a ride in the Saunagondola? First of all, you need to find your way to Ylläs ski resort in northern Finland. After that, reserve the saunagondola by calling +358 40 544 7743 or by sending email to yllaskammi@iso-yllas.fi. Next, enjoy the hot ride!
Notice that you cannot reserve only the Saunagondola. Instead you have to reserve the Café Gondol 718 sauna department located at the summit of Ylläs hill. The sauna department includes regular sauna services such as showers, a sauna and a fireplace. The price of the sauna department is 500 euros (maximum 12 people).
The price for the Saunagondola is 1000 euros, but as mentioned above, in order to get a ride in the Saunagondola you have to reserve the sauna department as well, which has a price tag of 500 euros. So the total price for the Saunagondola ride and the sauna department is 1500 euros, which might sound pretty high. The reason for the price is that the Saunagondola requires at least three people to operate it. And hey! It’s the only Saunagondola in the frigging world, so you got to be ready to pay for the unique ride.
Saunagondola. Oh man… This is pure Finnish craziness! Damn cool idea. I feel proud to be Finn. I hope the guys have patented their idea, because as soon as this article is published, the idea will be copied by big European ski resorts. As you know, Homeboy’s Ski Blog is THE online ski magazine!
If you have tested the Saunagondola, please leave a comment and share your experience with us!
2 Responses
Wow cool thing, would love to try it.
Sauna ride is cool. You can also ask Kimmo “skipe” Oivo, if you dont believe me. I’ve done it few times and next friday again… Rock!