Hunt for Northern Lights in Kiruna: 4-Hour Aurora Tour

Your guide chases the forecast, not a fixed route, so you follow the aurora where it appears.

A 4-hour northern lights tour from Kiruna that hunts the aurora borealis across Abisko National Park and surrounding areas, guided by someone who reads the weather and aurora forecast to find the highest-probability viewing spots. Groups stay under 7 people. Warm clothing, transport and a photography guide on shooting the lights are included. You'll need your own camera and tripod if you want to photograph them. Children from age 6 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. LKAB Visitor Centrepassing by
2. Abisko National Park20m

Northern lights hunt and exploration

• Meet for tour introduction
• Start northern lights hunt
• Travel to Abisko National Park
• Visit selected aurora viewing spots
• Return to starting point

The experience

The hunt starts at the LKAB Visitor Centre with a short introduction to how the tour works, then you drive into the night chasing the aurora. Your guide uses the live weather and northern lights forecast to pick locations with the best chance of seeing the lights, not a set itinerary, but a real-time decision based on cloud cover, aurora activity and where you are most likely to catch them. Abisko National Park and the surrounding area are your hunting ground, and the guide will move you between spots as conditions shift.

Northern lights are a natural phenomenon that changes constantly, so there's no guarantee you'll see them even with the best forecast and the best guide. What the guide does guarantee is effort: they'll position you in the places with the highest probability, and if you're a photographer, they'll find spots that work for long-exposure shots. You'll get a free photography guide explaining how to shoot the aurora and why it appears, though you'll need to bring your own camera and tripod: long shutter times are essential for capturing it. Warm clothing, gloves, a hat and an overall are provided if you meet at the starting point, so you're dressed for the cold night ahead.

The tour runs 4 hours and wraps up back at the visitor centre. You can book it with or without pickup and drop-off in Kiruna. If you arrange your own transport to the meeting point, the tour costs less. A live English-speaking guide leads every departure, and the small group size, never more than 7 people, keeps the experience genuine and lets the guide adapt to what each person needs, whether that's a better vantage point or a photography tip.

What’s included

• Professional guide leading the hunt.
• transport during the tour.
• warm clothing including shoes, overall, gloves and hat if you meet at the starting point.
• free photography guide explaining how to shoot the northern lights and why they appear.
• small group of maximum 7 people.

Options for this experience

2 options

Northern lights huntGuide in English · 20:00

Pickup and drop-off in KirunaGuide in English · 20:00Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 20:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Infant (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Cityphototour

Is this one for you?Book with pickup if you're arriving in Kiruna without a car or prefer not to navigate to the meeting point at night. Book without it if you have transport arranged and want to save on the tour cost.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between the two booking options for this tour?

The base tour includes the guide, transport during the hunt, warm clothing and the photography guide. The second option adds pickup and drop-off in Kiruna, so you don't arrange your own transport to the LKAB Visitor Centre. That option costs extra.

What do I need to bring if I want to photograph the northern lights?

You'll need your own camera and a tripod. The guide will show you how to set up for long-exposure shots and explain why the aurora appears, but the equipment is your responsibility.

What happens if the northern lights don't appear?

Northern lights are a natural phenomenon that depends on weather, cloud cover and aurora activity, so there's no guarantee you'll see them. Your guide does everything possible to position you in the best spots based on the live forecast, but sometimes weather conditions make it impossible.

How does the guide decide where to go during the tour?

The guide reads the weather and northern lights forecast before the tour starts and uses that data to pick locations with the highest probability of seeing the aurora. If conditions change during the night, the guide moves you to different spots to follow the best viewing opportunities.