Abisko: Aurora Photo Tour with 3 Ways to Chase Lights

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration4h

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Chasing auroras in Abisko by sleigh van or on foot with cameras ready

You’ll chase the northern lights in Abisko three different ways—with a local guide leading you by foot, van, or sleigh depending on the weather. Expect hands-on help with your camera, hot lingonberry juice to keep you warm, and small group energy as you wait together for those first streaks of color in the Arctic sky.

Step-by-step itinerary

Aurora photo adventure in Abisko

Meet professional aurora guides
Receive DSLR camera and lens
Learn basic aurora photography skills
Hunt northern lights on foot at teepee
Chase lights in 4x4 van
Ride sleigh behind snowmobile to camp
Learn about Lapland culture and history

The Experience

I honestly didn’t expect my boots to crunch that loud on the snow when we first stepped out in Abisko. It was colder than I thought it’d be, but our guide—Oskar, who had this calm way of explaining things—handed me a headlamp and a DSLR camera already set up for the northern lights. I’m not usually great with cameras, but he just grinned and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll get it.” The air smelled sharp and clean, like pine needles and something sweet I couldn’t place. We started off walking toward this teepee near the edge of the trees. Someone’s laugh echoed across the dark—felt like we were all holding our breath waiting for something big.

Depending on how the sky looked (Oskar kept checking his phone for some aurora forecast app), we switched it up. One minute we were piling into a 4x4 van—windows fogging up from our breath—the next we were climbing onto a wooden sleigh behind a snowmobile. That part was wild; the cold stung my face but it made everything feel more real somehow. At one point, someone passed around hot lingonberry juice from a thermos. It tasted tart and warm at once—I still think about that flavor when I see pictures from that night.

I tried to say “aurora borealis” in Swedish and pretty much butchered it; Oskar laughed and told us stories about Lapland while we waited for the sky to do its thing. When the lights finally showed up (it took longer than I expected), everyone went quiet except for one person who whispered “wow” without meaning to. I fumbled with my camera settings but managed to get a shot that wasn’t half bad—honestly, seeing those colors move above Abisko made me forget how cold my fingers were. We stayed out way past midnight because nobody wanted to leave first. There was no rush back; felt like time stretched out under all that green light.

What’s included

Your evening includes use of a DSLR camera with lens, tripod, backpack, warm overalls and headlamp—all handled by your local guide—plus snacks and hot lingonberry juice along the way as you travel by foot, van or sleigh through Abisko’s snowy landscape before returning whenever your group’s ready.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Lights Over Lapland