Kiruna: Snowshoe Trek with Aurora Hunt and Warm Beverage

Kiruna’s winter forest feels far more immediate when you reach it on snowshoes, with the stars overhead and the Northern Lights as your moving target. The outing combines a gentle trek, practical winter gear, and a hot drink by the fire, so it feels like more than simply standing in a parking lot and looking up.

I like two things especially: the pace is flexible, and guides such as Jonna, Ronja, Kevin, and Carsten have added personal help with snowshoes, animal tracks, local nature, and wilderness life. I also like that a sandwich and warm drink are included, a small detail that matters when you are outside in Kiruna’s cold evening air.

The main caution is timing. Although the activity is sold as three hours, that total includes transfers, and one outing began later than expected and ran beyond the planned finish. A forest climb can also be more strenuous than the short description suggests.

Key details before you book

• Snowshoe route near Kiruna: Walk through snow-covered forest and open areas close to the city rather than spending the whole evening in a vehicle.
• Northern Lights are possible, not promised: The guides take you to several viewing areas, but cloud and solar conditions are out of anyone’s control.
• Warm clothing is supplied: Insulated overalls and boots are provided, along with snowshoes and poles.
• A real outdoor break: Expect a sandwich and hot drink, with some outings including a fire while you watch the sky.
• Guides shape the evening: English-speaking guides including Jonna, Ronja, Kevin, and Carsten have helped with gear, nature, culture, and wilderness skills.
• Best for active visitors aged 10 and up: The pace can suit different fitness levels, but a hill and off-trail snowshoeing can still require effort.

Starting near Kiruna’s new city centre

You meet at the Kiruna Guidetur office in the new city centre, close to Scandic Hotel. This location is useful if you are staying nearby, but do not arrive at the last second. Meeting time is 20 to 30 minutes before the listed start, giving you time to check in and get dressed.

The three-hour duration includes transfers to and from the starting point of the snowshoe walk. That wording matters because your actual time taking snowshoe steps may be shorter than three hours. One evening also took longer than expected because the group started walking late, so I would keep some space in your evening plans after the tour.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off included. You need to reach the Kiruna Guidetur office yourself, then return there when the outing ends. The office’s position near Scandic Hotel makes this fairly simple for people in the new centre, but it is less convenient if your accommodation is elsewhere in Kiruna.

Getting dressed for Kiruna’s cold

The first practical task is getting into the supplied warm overalls and boots. You also receive snowshoes and poles. This is valuable because ordinary winter sightseeing clothes may not be enough for a long stop under an Arctic sky, especially when you are waiting for a faint glow to appear.

Bring warm clothing of your own as well. The official advice also calls for comfortable shoes, snacks, and water, though your outdoor footwear will be covered by the supplied boots once you get kitted out. Gloves, a hat, and warm layers remain sensible choices for any evening in Kiruna.

The boots are not just a minor extra. One guide helped people choose the warmest footwear available, while another helped the group learn how to use the snowshoes. That sort of assistance can make the difference between enjoying the walk and spending the night wrestling with straps and sinking in the snow.

Snowshoes spread your weight across the surface, but they do not turn a winter walk into a stroll on pavement. You will need to lift your feet a little higher than normal and use the poles for balance. If you have never used snowshoes, expect a short adjustment period.

Into the snowy forest by headlamp and starlight

Once the equipment is ready, the group heads out into the snow-covered surroundings. During Kiruna’s midwinter, daylight hours are short, but the snow reflects light from the stars and the Northern Lights, so the dark does not feel completely empty.

The appeal here is the setting. You are not only waiting for an aurora display. You are walking through a quiet winter forest, looking at the trees, snow, and sky while your guide chooses places with a better chance of an open view.

The route can be gentle, but it is not always flat. One outing followed a beautiful forest trail up a hill, with views appearing along the way. The climb was not clearly expected by everyone, and some people found it more exercise than anticipated. If you want a totally level, low-effort evening, ask about the route and hill before setting out.

At other points, the guide may offer some off-trail walking. That can make the outing feel more wild and less like a marked attraction, but it also means deeper snow and more work for your legs. The pace is set by the group, so you can ask for a slower rhythm, take breaks, and avoid turning the aurora hunt into a race.

What the guides add to the walk

The guide is central to the experience. The English-speaking staff do more than point toward the sky. During the walk, you might hear about animal tracks, nearby nature, local culture, and ways of surviving in the wilderness.

Ronja has been especially strong at explaining culture, nature, and wilderness life while keeping the outing moving. Kevin has helped with snowshoes and offered the option of a little off-trail walking. Carsten has been praised for helping people find the warmest boots and for creating a relaxed stop in the forest. Jonna has also made the evening feel welcoming and well supported.

Guide quality matters on an aurora outing because conditions may not cooperate. A good guide gives you something worthwhile to do even when the sky stays dark. Here, the snowshoe walk and the information about the natural setting provide a useful second layer to the Northern Lights search.

The exact route and mood will vary with the guide, snow, and group. You should not expect a scripted performance. The best part is often the simple conversation while walking, with the guide answering questions and helping you manage the gear.

Searching several viewing spots for the aurora

The group stops at a number of key areas where the Northern Lights might be visible. This is more useful than standing in one fixed spot, since trees, hills, and cloud can block a good view from one place while another area opens up the sky.

Still, no route can guarantee an aurora. One outing had no Northern Lights at all, despite a beautiful walk and good viewpoints. That is not a failure of the guide. Solar activity and cloud cover decide the result, and the honest way to book this is to treat the aurora as a possibility rather than a promise.

Other evenings have had the opposite result, with lights appearing early and continuing through much of the walk. Some outings have followed a dancing display while the group snowshoed, then stopped to watch it beside a fire. This is the luck you are buying into, not a guaranteed part of the package.

The starry sky remains worthwhile on its own. Kiruna’s winter darkness, reflected snow, and forest setting give the evening a strong sense of place, even when the aurora refuses to perform.

If seeing the Northern Lights is your main goal, consider placing this tour early in your Kiruna stay. The flexible cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and booking with pay later keeps your plans open. More important, an early booking leaves room to try again on another night if clouds win.

The warm stop with sandwich and drink

At some point, you pause for a sandwich and a warm beverage. Reviews describe cheese sandwiches, hot drinks, and, on some evenings, a fire lit to warm the group while the guide prepared the food.

This break is a welcome part of the design. You are more likely to enjoy a long look at the sky when your hands and stomach are not complaining. It also gives the group time to talk instead of marching continuously through the dark.

Do not expect a full meal. The included food is a simple sandwich, supported by a hot drink. Bring an extra snack if you tend to get hungry after exercise, and carry water as advised. The food is best understood as a warm field break, not dinner.

The fire is not listed as a guaranteed feature, so you should not book solely for that part. When conditions and the route allow it, though, a fire adds a memorable touch. Sitting in the forest with a hot drink while looking for green light overhead is a much more satisfying pause than eating indoors between activities.

How difficult is the snowshoe walk?

The activity is described as suitable for different fitness levels because the pace is set by the group. That makes it a reasonable introduction to snowshoeing for many people, especially with poles and guide support.

You should still prepare for uneven snow and a possible uphill section. One route went straight up a hill and back again, and that surprised people who expected a very easy walk. Snowshoeing also takes more effort than ordinary walking, particularly if you choose an off-trail section.

Children under 10 are not permitted, and the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. For everyone else, comfortable clothing and a willingness to walk outdoors in winter are more important than athletic ability.

If you have concerns about the climb, ask the guide at the start how much ascent is planned. The pace can be adjusted, but the route itself may still include a hill. I would rate this as an accessible outdoor activity with a moderate possibility of extra effort, rather than a guaranteed easy walk.

Is $143 a fair price?

At $143 per person, this is not the cheapest way to hunt for the Northern Lights in Kiruna. The price becomes easier to justify if you need winter equipment, since warm overalls, boots, snowshoes, and poles are included. You also receive a guide, a sandwich, and a hot drink.

You are paying for an active evening, not just transport to a viewing point. The value is strongest for someone who wants to learn snowshoeing, walk through the forest, and have guidance on finding good places to look upward.

The value is weaker if you only want the best possible chance of seeing the aurora. The lights may not appear, and part of the three-hour block includes transfers. A separate aurora chase by vehicle might cover more ground, though this experience offers more time outside and a closer connection to the snowy setting.

There is also a 300 SEK per person holiday addition for tours between December 24 and January 6. Check that extra cost before booking during the Christmas and New Year period.

Who will enjoy this Kiruna evening?

I would choose this for you if you want a mix of light exercise, winter scenery, and aurora watching. It suits first-time snowshoers because equipment and instruction are provided, and the guide can adjust the pace.

It is also a good fit if you prefer a small outdoor experience to sitting in a heated vehicle. The walk gives you time to notice the forest, animal tracks, snow, and stars. The hot drink and sandwich keep the outing practical rather than overly polished.

You may want a different activity if you have limited mobility, dislike cold-weather walking, or need to be back at a precise time. The possible hill, late start, and extra time at the end are worth taking seriously.

The experience also works well as an early-night activity during a Kiruna visit. You get a taste of the region’s winter conditions and can decide later if you want a longer or more specialized aurora outing.

Final call: book it for the walk, hope for the lights

Book this tour if you want the Northern Lights to be part of a broader winter evening, not the only reason to leave your hotel. The snowshoes, warm clothing, forest route, helpful guides, sandwich, and hot drink give you a worthwhile outing even if the sky stays quiet.

I would be cautious if you expect an exact three-hour schedule or a flat, effortless stroll. Ask about the hill at the meeting point, allow extra time after the listed finish, and arrive ready for real cold.

For most active visitors aged 10 and up, this is a well-rounded way to meet Kiruna’s winter outdoors. The aurora remains a matter of luck, but the walk itself gives the evening a solid purpose.

FAQ

Where does the snowshoe tour meet?

Meet at the Kiruna Guidetur office in Kiruna’s new city centre, close to Scandic Hotel.

How long does the experience last?

The listed duration is three hours. This total includes transfers to and from the starting point of the snowshoe trek.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the Kiruna Guidetur office yourself.

What equipment and food are included?

The tour includes a guide, warm overalls, boots, snowshoes, poles, a warm beverage, and a sandwich.

Can children join the activity?

Children under 10 years old cannot join. The activity is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.