Northern Lights Tour from Kiruna to Abisko with Dinner

Abisko gives you a better shot at the Northern Lights than Kiruna on many nights, and this tour makes the search practical. You ride out with guides who track cloud and weather conditions, then change locations if the first stop looks poor. The goal is not simply to park and hope.

I like the dinner at Abisko Mountain Lodge, which turns a long evening into a full Lapland outing rather than a cold roadside wait. I also like the guides’ persistence. They may move two or three times, drive toward Norway, or stay out late when the sky finally opens. The main drawback is simple: this is an Arctic night, and a campfire is not guaranteed at every viewing spot.

Key points

• Five hours in and around Abisko: The aurora search takes up most of the evening, with time for several viewing locations.
• Dinner before the chase: A Swedish Lapland meal at Abisko Mountain Lodge gives you a warm, comfortable start.
• Guides who adjust the route: The team checks conditions and may drive farther if clouds block the aurora.
• Photos are part of the package: A professional photographer takes night portraits and aurora shots, with high-resolution images provided according to tour information.
• Warmth is planned for, not promised: Winter overalls, hot drinks, and sometimes a campfire help, but wind and waiting remain part of the deal.
• A small-group format: The tour is advertised as intimate, though the supplied details conflict between a maximum of 12 people and a maximum of 2 travelers. Confirm the exact group size before booking.

Why the Kiruna to Abisko run is worth your evening

The Northern Lights are not a scheduled show. You need darkness, solar activity, and a patch of clear sky at the same time. Even Abisko cannot guarantee that combination.

That is why a guide-led chase can make sense. Instead of staying near your hotel in Kiruna and hoping for a gap in the clouds, you travel toward Abisko National Park, an area known for more favorable aurora conditions. The guides watch the weather during the day and decide where to go that night.

I like this practical approach. It accepts that the sky may change and treats the tour as a search rather than a fixed lookout stop. On difficult nights, the group may see only faint lights. On good nights, the aurora can fill the sky with moving color for hours.

The drive is also part of the appeal. You leave Kiruna at about 5 p.m., travel through Swedish Lapland, and reach Abisko for dinner before heading outside. The entire outing lasts about six to eight hours, though a determined search can make the return late. One account describes getting back around 2:30 a.m. after a long night, so do not schedule an early morning activity immediately afterward.

Dinner at Abisko Mountain Lodge comes first

The meal is not an afterthought. You begin at Abisko Mountain Lodge, where dinner includes traditional Swedish Lapland dishes. One especially noted choice is reindeer, along with other regional flavors. The restaurant setting also gives you a proper indoor break before the cold-weather portion begins.

That timing matters. You can eat, warm up, and listen to an introduction to the area before standing outside in winter clothing. Guides explain Abisko, Kiruna, the Sami people, and the science behind the aurora. They also share stories connected with Lapland and the Northern Lights.

I see this as one of the tour’s best features. A simple night chase can feel thin if it consists only of driving and waiting. Here, the meal and introduction give the evening some shape. You learn what you are looking for before heading into the dark.

The dinner also adds value to the price. At $278.79 per person, this is not a cheap way to see the aurora. But the fee covers private transportation, a guide, dinner, winter overalls, hot drinks, campfire arrangements when possible, and professional photography. If you would otherwise pay separately for a meal, a taxi or rental car, warm clothing, and photos, the package becomes easier to justify.

How the aurora search works in Abisko

After dinner, the guides choose a viewing area based on the night’s conditions. The route is not limited to one fixed lookout point. If clouds cover Abisko, the group may change places, drive farther, or continue toward the Norwegian border.

That flexibility is the heart of the tour. One outing included three location changes before the sky cleared. Another went across the border to Norway in search of less cloud. The guides’ willingness to keep moving can make the difference between a blank sky and at least a glimpse of the aurora.

You should also understand the tradeoff. More driving means less time sitting in one place, but it can mean a longer night in a vehicle. One account described an unpleasant smell in the transport vehicle, possibly from carrying the equipment used for a campfire. That is not the usual selling point of the tour, but it is a fair reminder that this is a working chase vehicle, not a luxury coach.

The transport is heated, and winter overalls are included. Still, dress as if you will spend time outdoors in wind and snow. The overalls are an extra layer, not a substitute for warm boots, gloves, a hat, and suitable base layers. You may be able to wait in the vehicle between stops, but you should not count on being indoors for the whole viewing period.

Campfire, hot drinks, and the limits of comfort

When the chosen location allows it, the guide builds a campfire. You can warm up with coffee or tea, lingonberry tea, cookies, and chocolate while waiting for the sky to change.

This is a fine setup on a calm, clear night. A fire gives the group a natural meeting point and makes the waiting feel social rather than purely technical. The snacks are modest, but hot drinks matter when you are standing in subzero conditions.

The important phrase is when the location allows it. The operator follows rules intended to protect the Arctic environment, so a fire cannot be lit anywhere. Some viewing spots have no fire area. On one difficult night, the group had to wait outside without a fire, though the guide offered overalls and the option of returning to the vehicles.

That is worth knowing before you book. The tour includes a campfire, but the night’s route and local restrictions determine if you actually sit beside one. If warmth and comfort are your top priorities, ask how the company handles a no-fire location. If seeing the aurora is your main goal, the lack of flames may be a reasonable tradeoff for a clearer sky.

Guides, stories, and camera help

The guides are a major part of the tour’s value. Names connected with this experience include Omor, Dimitri, Robin, and Onur, though the guide assigned to your evening can vary.

Their work is more than pointing at the sky. They explain the science behind the aurora, describe the region, answer questions, and help you understand camera settings. Guides have also used laminated visual materials to explain what is happening overhead. That is useful because a phone screen or camera display can make the aurora look brighter and more colorful than it appears to your eyes.

The strongest praise goes to the team’s determination. Dimitri is noted for keeping people comfortable, explaining the lights clearly, and continuing the search during snow and heavy cloud. Robin is remembered for patiently taking photos and staying enthusiastic as the group moved between spots. Omor and his team are associated with careful route choices and a strong effort to find visible aurora.

I like that the guides do not treat a faint display as a failure. A weak glow may be all the sky offers. Their job is to place you in the best available position, not to control the weather.

The included photography can be a real saving

Night photography is difficult. A phone needs a night mode, a steady hand, and enough aurora activity to capture anything useful. A proper camera needs the right settings, focus, exposure, and stability.

This tour includes a professional photographer with equipment set up for night work. The photographer takes pictures of you beneath the aurora and, according to the supplied tour details, provides the images in high resolution at no extra charge.

That is a meaningful benefit at this price. You can enjoy the sky instead of spending the whole night adjusting a camera. You can still bring your phone, and a modern phone with a good camera and night mode may produce strong results when the conditions are clear.

Do not confuse included photography with a guarantee of dramatic images. If the lights are faint, clouds or snow will affect the result. The photographer can improve framing and exposure, but cannot create an aurora that the sky does not provide.

What the evening feels like on a difficult night

The best night is easy to imagine: a good meal, clear weather, a warm fire, hot lingonberry tea, and green or multicolored light moving overhead. Some outings have delivered more than two hours of spectacular activity.

A difficult night can still be worthwhile, but it asks more of you. You might drive through a snowstorm, stand in wind, move between several locations, and see only a faint band. The guides may work hard and still have limited material to show you.

This is where expectations matter. Book this as an attempt to see the Northern Lights, not as a guaranteed performance. The tour requires good weather, and if conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection helps, but it does not change the uncertainty of a night that runs in marginal conditions.

The activity also requires moderate physical fitness. You should be comfortable getting in and out of transport, standing outdoors, and coping with winter conditions. It is not recommended for children younger than 15.

Is $278.79 a fair price?

For a basic aurora transfer, $278.79 would be steep. For a long evening that includes dinner, transportation from Kiruna, a guide, warm overalls, hot drinks, possible campfire time, active weather tracking, and professional photos, the price is more defensible.

The best value comes if you use several parts of the package. You receive less value if you already have a car, your own winter gear, a camera setup, and plans to eat independently. You also need to accept that the most expensive part of the package, the aurora chase, remains dependent on nature.

A small group can improve the experience. You get more room to ask questions, and the guide can spend more time helping with photos. However, the group-size information needs clarification. One part of the tour description says the maximum is 12, while another says the activity will have a maximum of 2 travelers. Those are very different experiences. Contact Lights of Vikings before paying if group size affects your decision.

Pickup details and practical planning

Pickup is offered from most hotels in Kiruna, with a stated start time of 5 p.m. The operator does not provide pickup or drop-off from the Ice Hotel, Camp Alta, Kurravaara, Reindeer Lodge, or Poikkijärvi.

That restriction is easy to miss and can affect your evening plans. If you are staying outside central Kiruna, confirm the meeting arrangement before booking. The tour is near public transportation, but the supplied information does not promise a transfer from every outlying property.

The tour is mobile-ticket friendly, and confirmation is sent at booking. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, except when the operator cancels because of poor weather or an insufficient minimum number of bookings.

Because the return can be late, plan a simple morning afterward. The exact finish depends on the route, weather, and how long the group continues searching.

Who should book this Northern Lights tour?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Kiruna, want an organized way to reach Abisko, and would rather have a guide making the weather decisions. It suits first-time aurora seekers who want help with cameras and do not want to rent a car for a winter night drive.

It is also a good match if you care about the complete evening: regional food, local stories, Sami and Lapland context, hot drinks, and photographs. The dinner makes the outing feel more substantial than a quick bus ride to a viewing point.

I would think twice if you need a guaranteed campfire, dislike long drives, or cannot tolerate standing in cold conditions. I would also compare other options if your only aim is to see the lights as cheaply as possible.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you value effort and guidance more than certainty. The strongest reason to book is the active search: the team checks conditions, changes locations, and may drive a long way to find clearer sky. The dinner and photography add useful value, while overalls and hot drinks take some strain out of the cold.

Book with realistic expectations. You may see a faint glow, a brilliant sky, or nothing at all. For the best chance, confirm your pickup point, ask about the actual group size, bring serious winter clothing, and leave your next morning open. If you can accept the weather risk, this is a well-rounded way to chase the aurora from Kiruna to Abisko.

FAQ

What time does the Northern Lights tour start?

The stated start time is 5 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately six to eight hours.

Is dinner included?

Yes. Dinner at Abisko Mountain Lodge is included, with traditional Swedish Lapland dishes.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Pickup and drop-off are offered from most hotels in Kiruna. They are not provided from the Ice Hotel, Camp Alta, Kurravaara, Reindeer Lodge, or Poikkijärvi.

Are winter clothes provided?

Winter overalls are included. You should still bring suitable winter clothing for cold and windy outdoor conditions.

Is a campfire guaranteed?

No. A campfire is included when the viewing location allows it. Environmental rules and the chosen site may prevent the guide from lighting one.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the tour is canceled because of poor weather.