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Photography Expeditions in Abisko
A tiny settlement on Lake Tornetrask in Swedish Lapland, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, wrapped around Abisko National Park and the U-shaped Lapporten valley. It is the northern trailhead of the Kungsleden, the King's Trail, and one of the most reliable places on earth to see the northern lights.
Why here
Abisko is widely rated the single best place on earth to photograph the aurora borealis, and a northern lights photo expedition here is the reason many travellers come north at all. The secret is the Tornetrask blue hole: the mountains west of the lake cast a rain shadow that keeps a pocket of sky unusually clear and dry even when the whole region is clouded, so on nights when nowhere else works, Abisko often does. From September to late March, under some of the darkest skies in Europe, guided photo groups set up on the frozen lake shore or ride the chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station at 900 metres on Mount Nuolja, learning the long-exposure settings that turn the green curtains into a frame. The same clear, still air gives crisp shots of the Lapporten valley, reflections, and star fields, and guides read the space-weather forecasts to chase the best displays. Because the darkness deepens as the walkers leave, autumn and deep winter are prime, and the cold, dry Abisko sky rewards patience with the most dependable aurora in the Arctic.
Best months
Aurora season runs from the return of darkness in early September to the end of March, closing as the midnight sun approaches in April; the darkest, coldest months of December to February give the longest shooting windows. Clear sky is everything, and while the Tornetrask blue hole raises the odds it guarantees nothing, so allow three or more nights to be sure of a display. Temperatures routinely fall well below minus twenty, which drains camera batteries fast, so carry spares warm and dress for hours standing still. A tripod and manual controls are essential.
Getting there & around
Abisko is one of the most accessible aurora bases in the Arctic: fly to Kiruna and transfer about 100 kilometres by bus or car, or take the direct night train from Stockholm to the Abisko Turiststation station. Most photo tours run from the Turiststation or the Aurora Sky Station on Mount Nuolja, reached by chairlift. Book multi-night packages ahead for winter, and pack serious cold-weather clothing and camera protection. Nearby Bjorkliden and the Icehotel at Jukkasjarvi make easy add-ons.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Aurora Sky Station
OutfitterThe Aurora Sky Station stands at 900 metres on Mount Nuolja above Abisko, reached by a chairlift from the Abisko Turiststation and operated by STF. Set in the Tornetrask blue hole, a pocket of unusually clear and dry sky, it is one of the classic vantage points for the northern lights, open through the dark season for guided night visits and a northern lights dinner. In summer the same lift climbs to midnight-sun hikes across the nordic alpine terrain of the mountain's shoulder.
Lights Over Lapland
OutfitterLights Over Lapland is an aurora photography tour company based at the Abisko Turiststation inside Abisko National Park, one of the most reliable places on earth for the northern lights thanks to the rain-shadow blue hole over Lake Tornetrask. It runs small-group photo adventures capped at eight guests per guide, teaching camera settings in the field, and works from the Aurora Sky Station on Mount Nuolja. It holds a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award and over 2,000 five-star reviews.