Abisko Northern Lights Tour with Photographer

The best part of this Abisko Northern Lights tour is the chase itself. You are not tied to one viewing spot. If clouds settle over Abisko, your driver can head toward Kiruna’s boreal forest or another area with clearer skies, sometimes covering a great deal of ground to find the aurora.

I like the small group of up to eight people, and I like that the $59 price includes pickup, hot drinks, snacks, and photographs. The guide also helps you set up your own camera, which matters when your fingers are cold and the sky suddenly turns green. The main drawback is simple: the northern lights are never guaranteed, and the fixed, non-refundable booking policy requires some care.

Key points to know before you book

• A real weather chase: The group can leave Abisko and drive toward Kiruna or another clear-sky location.
• Photos included: Pictures are sent to you within three days after the tour.
• Small group size: A maximum of eight people keeps the outing more personal and makes camera help easier.
• Warmth built in: Coffee or tea, snacks, and a campfire help during long periods outside.
• A $59 package: Pickup, transport, guide service, drinks, snacks, and photos are included, but dinner is not.
• A flexible evening: The listed duration is about four hours, though a determined search for clear skies can take much longer.

Chasing clear skies from Abisko at 7 pm

The evening begins with pickup from your hotel in Abisko at 7 pm. From there, the guide checks the night’s conditions and decides whether to remain nearby or start driving toward better skies.

That choice is the heart of the experience. The northern lights are not a scheduled show, and a cloudy sky can spoil an otherwise promising forecast. A guide willing to move the vehicle gives you a better chance than simply standing beside a hotel and hoping the clouds break.

The route may include Abisko, the boreal forest near Kiruna, or another location with clearer weather. This means the exact evening can feel very different from one date to the next. You might spend much of the time near Abisko, or you might cover a surprising amount of road in pursuit of a gap in the clouds.

One detailed account describes a six-to-seven-hour outing and several hundred kilometers of driving before the aurora appeared more than once. That is not a promise of extra time, but it tells you something useful about the company’s approach: the search may continue well beyond the neat four-hour estimate when conditions call for persistence.

Why the small group makes a difference

The tour accepts no more than eight people. That is a useful size for an aurora chase, where everyone needs room in the vehicle and a clear chance to step outside when the sky opens up.

A small group also helps with photography. If you bring your own camera, the guide can help you set it up for night shots. This is especially useful if you arrive with a camera but little experience photographing stars. You will not need to work out every setting alone in the dark.

The group limit also makes the guide’s stories easier to hear. During the drive, you can expect stories about the northern lights and Vikings. The Viking theme gives the journey a bit of character, rather than turning the outing into a silent transfer between viewing spots.

The tradeoff is that this is still a shared outing. You will not control every stop or decide how long the group stays in one place. If you want a private vehicle or a fully customized photography session, this is not that kind of tour.

Watching the aurora outside Abisko

Once the guide finds a clear area, the group gets out to watch the sky. The aurora may appear quickly, or it may take patience. A clear sky is one of the main conditions needed, but clear weather alone does not promise a strong display.

The best approach is to dress for waiting, not just for walking from a vehicle to a viewpoint. You may spend time outside looking up before the lights become visible. Hot coffee or tea, snacks, and a campfire are included to help you stay comfortable while the sky does its work.

That campfire is more than a pleasant extra. Northern nights can feel long when you are standing still, and warmth gives you a place to regroup between glances overhead. Dinner is not included, so eat beforehand unless you have made another plan.

The guide’s job is not to manufacture an aurora. It is to improve your odds by reading the weather and moving when needed. Keep that distinction in mind when you book. A good chase can put you under a clear sky, but nature still controls the final result.

Getting photographs of the night

Photos are included, and they are sent within three days after the tour. That gives you a useful record of the evening without requiring you to master manual camera settings yourself.

The photography service also helps if your phone or camera produces dark, blurry images. Aurora photography often needs careful handling, and the guide can help you set up your own equipment. You should still bring the camera you want to use, since the included pictures are part of the tour’s service rather than a replacement for your personal photos.

One guide named Jesus received especially warm praise for both his effort and the quality of his photographs. That does not mean every departure has the same guide, but it does show the kind of personal attention you may receive on a strong night.

You may also find that the guide’s own photos capture the colors and scale better than a quick handheld snapshot. The lights can look faint to the eye and weak on an unprepared camera. Having someone familiar with the conditions is a real advantage at this price.

What the four-hour schedule really means

The official duration is approximately four hours, which makes the tour easy to fit into an evening in Abisko. Pickup at 7 pm should leave room for a later night’s sleep, assuming the search stays close to the advertised schedule.

Still, the nature of the chase makes timing less rigid than a standard sightseeing trip. If clouds cover one area, the driver may continue toward another. A night with a long drive can stretch to six or seven hours, as one account describes.

I would not book a late dinner, train, or other fixed appointment immediately after the tour. The listed duration is your planning guide, not a guarantee that the vehicle will return at the four-hour mark.

This flexibility is both a strength and a weakness. You get a serious attempt to find clear skies, but you give up some control over the evening. If you prefer a short, tightly timed activity, the longer chase may test your patience. If you care most about improving your chance of seeing the aurora, the extra driving can feel worthwhile.

Is $59 good value?

At $59, this is a strong package for an evening excursion. You receive hotel pickup in Abisko, transport during the search, a guide, hot drinks, snacks, and photographs sent afterward. You are not paying separately for each small part of the night.

The value becomes clearer if you do not have a rental car. You avoid driving unfamiliar winter roads while trying to watch the sky, and you have someone else making the location decisions. The guide can also help with photography and explain what you are seeing.

Dinner is not included, so factor in the cost of eating before pickup. The tour may also require extra time and energy if the search stretches beyond four hours.

The low price does come with uncertainty. You are paying for the chase and the effort to find suitable conditions, not for a guaranteed display. If poor weather cancels the experience, you are offered another date or a full refund. For any other cancellation or change, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be amended, so choose your date carefully.

Who will enjoy this Abisko aurora outing?

I would choose this tour if you want a practical first attempt at seeing the northern lights without renting a car. It suits adults and older teenagers who can handle a moderate level of physical activity and several hours outside.

It is also a good fit if you care about taking home photographs but do not want to manage every technical detail alone. The guide’s camera help and included pictures give you two ways to record the night.

The tour may suit you less if you need a guaranteed return time, dislike long drives, or want dinner included. It is not recommended for anyone younger than 15, and the group format means you share the route and viewing time with other people.

The experience depends heavily on weather. I would treat it as one part of a wider Abisko plan, not the only reason to visit. If the aurora does not appear, you still receive the drive, stories, warm drinks, and a serious search, but the main prize remains outside anyone’s control.

Practical details that matter on the night

Pickup is offered from hotels in Abisko, and the start time is 7 pm. The area is also near public transportation, which helps if you are arranging your wider trip without a car.

Confirmation is provided when you book. The maximum group size is eight, and a moderate level of physical fitness is expected. The information does not give a detailed accessibility description, so you should check directly if you need specific assistance.

Bring the camera you hope to use, even if it is only a basic one. The guide can help with setup, and having your own equipment lets you try your own shots while the included photos provide a backup.

You should also plan for cold outdoor conditions. The tour supplies warm drinks and a campfire, but those extras do not replace suitable clothing. Eat before pickup because dinner is not part of the $59 price.

Should you book the Lights of Vikings tour?

Book it if you want a small-group northern lights chase with pickup, photography, and a guide prepared to drive for better skies. The strongest reasons are the flexible route, the included photos, and the warm drinks and campfire during the wait.

I would be more cautious if your schedule is tight or if you are uncomfortable with a non-refundable booking. The advertised four hours may become a much longer evening, and no northern lights tour can promise a display.

For most visitors staying in Abisko without a car, the $59 cost is sensible. Choose a night when you can remain flexible, eat before 7 pm, dress for waiting outdoors, and accept that the sky gets the final vote.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

Pickup begins at 7 pm.

Where does the tour take place?

The tour starts in Abisko. Depending on the weather, the group may stay in Abisko, drive to the boreal forest near Kiruna, or continue to another location with clearer skies.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately four hours. A long search for clear skies can take more time, and one outing lasted six to seven hours.

Are hotel pickups available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from hotels in Abisko.

Are photographs included?

Yes. The guide takes pictures during the northern lights experience and sends them to you within three days after the tour.

Can I bring my own camera?

Yes. If you bring your own camera, the guide can help you set it up for better northern lights photographs.

Is food included?

Coffee or tea and snacks are included. Dinner is not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.