Abisko: Guided Aurora Chase with Hotel Transfers

The sky decides the schedule. This three-and-a-half-hour aurora chase uses local forecasts, weather checks, and up to 100 kilometers of driving to find clearer skies around Abisko National Park. I like the flexible routing, and I like the human touch from guides such as Joey and Romy, who help with camera settings and often take photos for the group.

The $109 price is fair for a winter evening that includes transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, and a warm drink. The catch is simple: no northern lights are guaranteed, and some evenings involve clouds, wind, long waits, or several short walks in the dark.

At a glance

• Up to 100 kilometers of searching: Your guide can change plans during the evening instead of staying at one cloudy viewpoint.
• Hotel pickup in Abisko: Pickup is offered from five local accommodation points, but not from Kiruna.
• Photo help from the guide: Joey is repeatedly praised for taking group photos and helping visitors set up their cameras.
• Warm breaks outdoors: A fire, warm lingonberry drink, cookies, crackers, or marshmallows may be part of the evening, depending on the outing.
• Three-and-a-half-hour duration: The tour runs for 210 minutes, usually beginning around 8:00 or 8:15 PM.
• Weather remains the boss: Even a skilled guide cannot produce an aurora on a fully clouded night.

Starting the evening in Abisko

The outing begins with pickup at one of five Abisko-area locations: Abisko Mountain Lodge, Abisko Fjällturer, Abisko Guesthouse, STF Abisko Turiststation, or Hotell Fjället. Pickup at Hotell Fjället and Kåppas Cabin is listed for 8:00 PM. The other Abisko stops are generally around 8:15 to 8:30 PM.

That shared pickup makes the evening easy if you are already staying in Abisko. You do not need to find a meeting point in the dark or arrange a late-night taxi between lodgings. You do need to be ready on time, since several pickups are close together.

One important restriction can save you a booking mistake: there is no pickup from Kiruna. If you are based in Kiruna, this particular departure does not solve your transportation problem.

The vehicle is a major part of the experience. Several outings have used a large, warm bus, giving you a place to thaw between stops. That matters in winter, when standing outside for even a short time can feel much longer than expected.

How the aurora chase actually works

This is not a fixed coach ride to one viewing platform. After everyone is collected, the guide checks local weather and aurora forecasts, then chooses where to search. The team may use several known viewing sites around Abisko, with a maximum roundtrip distance of about 100 kilometers.

That mobility is the main reason to choose a chase rather than simply walking outside your hotel. If clouds settle over Abisko, the guide can look for a break elsewhere. Guides have also used what locals call the Abisko blue-hole effect, a patch of clearer sky that can appear while nearby areas remain cloudy.

You might visit one location or several. Some outings have stopped at three, four, or even five places. That can bring better odds, but it also means more getting on and off the bus, more waiting for instructions, and possibly more walking over snowy or icy ground.

The best guides explain what they are seeing as the night develops. Joey is especially praised for checking changing conditions, staying upbeat when forecasts look poor, and continuing the search until the group has a genuine chance. Romy is also praised for her enthusiasm and for keeping spirits high during cold spells.

What each part of the route offers

The first stretch is a scenic drive through the Abisko area. This is not only transportation. The guide may point out the surroundings, share stories about Abisko National Park, and explain why certain areas offer better viewing conditions.

The route can include a photo stop or a short sightseeing pause. Locations near lakes and rivers can be especially attractive in winter because the aurora may reflect off smooth ice. That gives you more than a dark sky overhead. You may get a broad, mirrored view in your photographs, although the exact setting depends on weather and the route chosen that evening.

At the first stop, the guide checks the sky and gives the group time to look for activity. Faint auroras may be easier to capture with a camera than with the naked eye, so do not assume that a pale green streak means the night is a failure. Your camera can reveal color and detail that your eyes barely catch.

If conditions are poor, the bus moves on. This is where the tour earns much of its price. You are paying for local decisions and transport between possible viewing points, not simply a place to stand.

At a later stop, you might have a clearer view or stronger activity. Some outings have found bright auroras after two weaker attempts. Others have seen the lights from several directions, including north, south, east, and west, when activity was especially strong.

The outdoor pause often includes a fire and a warm drink. Warm lingonberry juice, tea, cookies, crackers, and, on some evenings, marshmallows have been part of the experience. These extras are not the same as a meal, but they give the evening a pleasant Nordic campfire feel and help break up the cold.

The final stop may be the best one, or it may simply be the place where the guide decides that conditions are no longer improving. You are then returned to one of the five Abisko drop-off points. The return locations include Abisko Guesthouse, STF Abisko Turiststation, Abisko Mountain Lodge, Hotell Fjället, and Abisko Fjällturer.

The guides make a real difference

The most praised part of this outing is the guide service. Joey receives especially warm feedback for her energy, patience, photography, and determination. She has helped people adjust camera settings, taken portrait photographs with auroras behind them, and shared images with the group afterward.

That photo help is valuable because northern lights photography can be frustrating. A phone may show something different from what your eyes see, and a camera often needs careful focus and exposure settings. If you bring your own equipment, ask the guide for help early rather than waiting until the brightest display is already fading.

Joey is not the only guide associated with strong outings. Romy is praised for being friendly and enthusiastic, while Burk and other team members have also helped create positive evenings. The guide assigned to your departure can vary, so you should not book solely on the hope of getting one particular person.

The guide also serves as a morale manager. That may sound minor, but it is not. Standing outside in Arctic weather while watching a gray sky can test anyone’s patience. A guide who explains the forecast, keeps the group moving, and remains positive makes a clouded night feel less like wasted time.

Photography, darkness, and what to pack

Warm clothing is not optional. Bring proper winter layers, gloves, a hat, and footwear suited to snow and ice. The activity does not provide warm clothing, and the bus only helps between outdoor stops.

A head torch would be useful, especially if the group takes a longer walk away from the road. One outing involved a dark trail, and the lack of provided head torches made navigation harder. Bring your own small light if you have one, but use it carefully so you do not shine it into other people’s cameras.

Camera equipment is not included. The guide may offer photography advice, and several outings have included free guide photos, but you should not treat professional camera service as a guaranteed part of the booking. Bring your own camera or phone if you want personal images.

The strongest results usually come from patience. You may see a faint aurora with your eyes, then capture a stronger image on camera. You may also get excellent photographs of the snowy surroundings, the fire, the bus stops, or the night sky even when the aurora remains weak.

Price and value at $109

At $109 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look at the sky. You could simply step outside your accommodation and hope for activity. But that comparison misses the main service: this outing gives you transport, a guide, weather-based decisions, access to several possible sites, a warm drink, and a chance to avoid the worst cloud cover.

The value improves if you are staying in Abisko without a car. Driving unfamiliar winter roads at night is not appealing for everyone, and the guide may know where conditions are changing. A warm bus also has real value when temperatures drop.

The price is less compelling if you already have a vehicle, strong local weather knowledge, and several nights available for your own search. It is also worth remembering that the cost buys effort and access, not a guaranteed display.

The overall rating is 4.5 from 311 ratings, with repeated praise for the guides, transportation, photos, and willingness to keep searching. The most useful sign is not the number alone. It is the pattern: people appreciate the service even on nights when nature refuses to cooperate.

The limits of an aurora promise

A good guide can find clearer skies. A good driver can cover ground safely. Neither can control solar activity, cloud cover, snow, or moonlight.

Several successful outings happened under poor forecasts, including evenings with heavy cloud, snow, a full moon, or a low aurora prediction. Guides found gaps in the clouds and faint activity that might have been missed from one fixed spot. That is a genuine advantage.

Other evenings produced little or no visible aurora. In those cases, the guides still provided photo help, stories, transport, and a positive atmosphere. You should book with realistic expectations: this is a well-run search, not a guarantee of dancing green lights.

The full moon can also reduce contrast, especially when the aurora is weak. It does not make an appearance impossible, but it may make faint colors harder to see. If you have more than one night in Abisko, consider booking early in your stay so you have time for another attempt.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Abisko, do not have a car, and want someone else to handle route decisions. It is also a good fit if you want help with night photography or would rather spend the evening with a guide than stand alone outside your hotel.

It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and older children who can manage cold conditions and dark outdoor walks. Children under five are not permitted.

You should think twice if you dislike changing plans or standing outside in winter. The route may include several stops, and the night can involve waiting for the sky to open. If you need an indoor attraction with a guaranteed result, an aurora chase is the wrong kind of activity.

Book with flexible thinking. The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps, but it does not remove the need to check your pickup point and prepare for the cold.

Should you book the Abisko Aurora Chase?

Yes, if you want the best practical odds rather than a fixed viewpoint. The combination of mobile routing, experienced local guides, hotel transfers, warm transportation, and photo assistance gives this tour solid value at $109.

I would book it for one of your first evenings in Abisko, then leave room for another attempt if your schedule allows. Choose it especially if Joey or Romy is guiding, but remember that the whole team has earned strong praise.

Do not book expecting guaranteed lights. Book it because the operators can search farther, read changing conditions, and make a disappointing forecast more promising. On the right night, that extra effort can turn a cloudy evening into a sky full of moving color.

FAQ

How long does the aurora chase last?

The activity lasts 210 minutes, or three and a half hours.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from Abisko Mountain Lodge, Abisko Fjällturer, Abisko Guesthouse, STF Abisko Turiststation, and Hotell Fjället.

Is pickup available from Kiruna?

No. The activity specifically states that there is no pickup from Kiruna.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup at Hotell Fjället and Kåppas Cabin is listed for 8:00 PM. Pickup at STF Abisko Turiststation, Abisko Guesthouse, Abisko Fjällturer, and Abisko Mountain Lodge is generally around 8:15 to 8:30 PM.

How far can the group travel?

The guide may travel up to 100 kilometers roundtrip while searching for suitable aurora conditions.

Are warm clothes provided?

No. You need to bring your own warm clothing.

Is photography equipment included?

No. Camera equipment is not included, although guides may help with camera settings and may take photos during the outing.