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Photographer with a tripod photographing the aurora borealis over snow in Abisko National Park during a guided northern lights photography tour
Astrophotography

Camera coaching for the aurora, not just a ride into the dark

About 4 hours (may run longer if the aurora is active)
Departs around 7:00-7:30 PM local time; guides adjust timing against live aurora activity and cloud cover.
Hotel pickup in Abisko or Björkliden; exact meeting point confirmed by the operator at booking
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What the Guide Actually Teaches

Abisko has one of Swedish Lapland's best reputations for clear aurora skies, driven by the rain-shadow microclimate covered in our Abisko stargazing guide. This tour builds a photography lesson into that advantage. Guides who shoot the aurora professionally teach manual focus locked to infinity, walk through long-exposure shutter speeds for a moving sky, and adjust ISO and aperture in real time as the display brightens or fades. If you've never touched manual mode before, this tour teaches it from scratch.

What a Night Actually Looks Like

Departure runs around 7:00-7:30 PM local time, and the group stays out for roughly 4 hours, longer if the aurora is active and everyone wants to keep shooting. Groups cap at eight participants per guide, small enough that you get real one-on-one time behind the tripod. Expect:

  • A guide-led scouting stop for a clean horizon and a foreground worth including, often along Lake Torneträsk
  • Camera setup on provided tripods, with presets dialed in before the group starts shooting
  • Real-time coaching on exposure, composition, and cold-weather battery management
  • Warm drinks and breaks to actually watch the display between shots

Gear, Provided or Otherwise

Cameras with aurora-ready presets are supplied for guests without their own DSLR, along with tripods, headlamps, and arctic-weight overalls. Bringing your own body? Ask about wide-aperture lenses (f/2.8 or faster) before you fly. A kit lens around f/5.6 still works with the provided presets, but you'll fight the high-ISO noise floor far more than someone shooting wider glass.

Booking and Price

Lights Over Lapland runs this tour directly, and the same experience is also bookable through GetYourGuide and Viator. Expect somewhere in the £118-195 GBP ($150-240 USD) range for the 4-hour outing. Currency conversion and seasonal demand shift that figure, so confirm the current price directly with the operator before booking.

Season

Tours run December through March, when Abisko's dark season overlaps with its rain-shadow advantage for some of Swedish Lapland's more dependable aurora viewing. Outside that window, there simply isn't enough darkness to shoot by.

Part of: Abisko

Darkness ratings, when to go, lodges, and more tours at this destination

Highlights

  • Real-time camera coaching from guides who shoot the aurora professionally
  • DSLR cameras with aurora-ready presets provided for guests without their own gear
  • Maximum 8 participants per guide for hands-on attention
  • Arctic overalls, headlamp, and warm drinks included
  • Runs through Abisko's rain-shadow microclimate, one of Swedish Lapland's more dependable clear-sky pockets

Included

  • DSLR camera with aurora-ready presets (for guests without their own)
  • Tripod
  • Arctic-weight overalls and headlamp
  • Warm drinks and light snacks
  • Guide-led camera coaching throughout the tour

Not included

  • Personal camera equipment (optional, guests may bring their own)
  • Accommodation
  • Meals beyond warm drinks and snacks
  • Travel insurance

Practical information

Availability

December through March (Abisko's dark season)

Languages

English, Swedish

Group size

Maximum 8 participants per guide

Accessibility

Moderate outdoor activity in cold, on snow and uneven ground; not wheelchair accessible due to terrain

Good to know before booking

  • No prior photography experience required, camera coaching starts from the basics
  • Warm winter clothing recommended in addition to the provided arctic overalls
  • Comfortable, insulated winter boots for standing on snow and ice
  • Flexible scheduling, exact departure and duration shift with aurora activity and weather

Prices & Booking

Bookable online

From €138 approx.

From approximately £118-195 GBP ($150-240 USD) per person for the 4-hour tour; confirm current pricing directly with the operator before booking

Departs around 7:00-7:30 PM local time; guides adjust timing against live aurora activity and cloud cover.
Book this tour More information

Tags

aurora northern lights photography abisko lapland sweden guided tour winter astrophotography

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Abisko northern lights photography tour cost?

A single 4-hour tour runs roughly £118-195 GBP (about $150-240 USD) per person. That figure moves with currency conversion and demand, so confirm current pricing directly with Lights Over Lapland, or via GetYourGuide or Viator, before booking.

Do I need my own camera for the tour?

No. Lights Over Lapland supplies DSLR cameras preset for aurora photography, along with tripods, for guests who don't own their own gear. If you bring your own body, a wide-aperture lens (f/2.8 or faster) will handle the high-ISO noise floor better than a typical kit lens.

What camera settings work for aurora photography in Abisko?

Guides start most guests in manual mode: a wide aperture, ISO in the 800-3200 range, and a shutter speed of a few seconds depending on how fast the aurora is moving, with manual focus locked to infinity. Settings shift in real time as the display brightens or speeds up, which is exactly what the guide is there to adjust with you.

How cold does it get, and what should I bring?

December through March nights in Abisko regularly sit well below freezing. Arctic overalls and a headlamp are provided, but bring thermal base layers, insulated gloves, wool socks, and chemical hand or foot warmers. Standing still behind a tripod in the cold is a different challenge than walking to stay warm.

When does the tour season run?

December through March, Abisko's core dark season. Outside that window there isn't enough darkness for aurora photography, regardless of aurora activity levels.

Can I book through GetYourGuide or Viator instead of directly?

Yes. The tour is also listed on GetYourGuide and Viator, though booking direct through lightsoverlapland.com typically offers more flexible cancellation terms.

Further reading

Sources

  1. lightsoverlapland.com (opens in a new tab)
  2. lightsoverlapland.com (opens in a new tab)
  3. GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
  4. Viator (opens in a new tab)
  5. TripAdvisor (opens in a new tab)
  6. visitabisko.com (opens in a new tab)
  7. visitabisko.com (opens in a new tab)

Continue exploring

All tours

Stargazing tours and dark-sky experiences
Destinations

Dark-sky sites and observing locations

Where to stay nearby

Dark-sky lodges and camps near this tour — book the night, then book the bed.

More tours to explore

Aurora Sky Station Abisko Night Visit
Northern Lights
Bookable online

Aurora Sky Station Abisko Night Visit

Ride the chairlift above Abisko's treeline to the Aurora Sky Station for a real shot at the northern lights. Only 40 spots nightly, so book direct through STF.

Duration: Chairlift ascent: about 30 minutes each way, with descent by elevator. The guided Night Visit itself runs within the station's 20:30–01:00 operating window (latest departure); total time on the mountain depends on your transport slot. Price: Daytime chairlift tickets start from 220 SEK per person (one-way or return). Night Visit pricing is not published online, check current rates directly on the STF or Aurora Sky Station booking page before planning a budget around a specific figure. A separate dinner package (three-course meal, warm drinks, and two guided tours, with return chairlift included) is also available; confirm its current price at booking, since past-season figures are not a reliable guide to what it costs now.
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