Abisko National Park Northern Lights Tour from Kiruna

Kiruna: the gateway to Swedish Lapland

Kiruna is the northernmost town in Sweden, lying about 145 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in the heart of Swedish Lapland. It grew up around one of the largest iron ore mines in the world, and the town centre is gradually being moved east because the mine runs beneath it. In winter the town is the base for aurora hunting, dog sledding and visits to the snowy wilderness.

Your northern lights tour from Kiruna begins with pickup at your accommodation in the Kiruna area around 19:30. Be ready outside on time, dressed for deep cold. Pickups and drop-offs in Abisko itself are not possible, because the guide adjusts the route during the evening according to cloud cover and aurora activity.

The drive and aurora viewing spots

From Kiruna the road heads west through birch forest, frozen lakes and open fells towards the mountains on the Norwegian border. Away from town lights the sky becomes truly dark, and your guide stops at chosen viewpoints along the way whenever the aurora starts to appear. Each stop gives you time to step out, look up and set up your camera.

Because the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, no tour can guarantee them. Your guide checks forecasts and cloud maps through the evening and may change the route to give you the best possible chance. Travelling in a small group of no more than 8 people means quick stops, easy conversation and personal attention when the sky lights up.

Abisko National Park: the best place to see northern lights in Sweden

Abisko National Park was founded in 1909, making it one of the oldest national parks in Europe. It lies on the shore of Torneträsk, a vast mountain lake, surrounded by peaks and valleys. Thanks to the mountains around it, Abisko often has a patch of clear sky when nearby areas are cloudy, which is why it is famous as one of the best places to see the northern lights in the world.

On this Abisko northern lights tour you visit the best spots to gaze at the sky, with wide views over the snow-covered landscape. The best time to visit Abisko for the aurora is from September to late March, when nights are long and dark. On clear nights the sky can fill with green ribbons, sometimes edged with pink or violet.

Abisko canyon and the Arctic night

If the weather allows, your guide leads a short, peaceful walk near the Abisko canyon, where the river Abiskojokk has carved a narrow gorge through layers of rock. In winter the cliffs are dusted with snow and ice, the river runs dark between frozen banks, and the silence of the Arctic night is broken only by the sound of the water below.

The walk is easy but can be slippery, so warm, sturdy shoes with good grip are essential. Under a clear sky the canyon makes a striking foreground for aurora photos, and your guide helps you with camera settings, long exposures and smartphone night modes so you leave with pictures you are proud of.

Fika under the northern lights

Fika is the Swedish tradition of pausing for something warm to drink and something sweet to eat, and on this tour it happens under the Arctic sky. While you keep watch for the aurora, your guide serves warm lingonberry juice, made from the tart red berries that grow wild in Swedish forests, together with sweet pastries from a local bakery.

This break is a chance to warm your hands, share photos and ask your guide about the science behind the northern lights. After the last viewing stop you relax on the heated minibus back to Kiruna, where you are dropped off at the same place you were picked up, after about 4.5 hours in total.