Abisko: Aurora Car Chasing Tour with Photographer

The best part of this Abisko aurora tour is that you do not have to choose between watching the sky and wrestling with a camera in the cold. Your guide drives from spot to spot, watches the weather, and takes your photos while you keep your gloves on. Jeff, one of the guides praised for astronomy and night photography, also adds stories about stars, reindeer, and Arctic wildlife.

I like the small group of up to eight and the fact that transportation, warm drinks, a photographer, and digital photos are included. I also like the practical approach: if clouds block one spot, the guide can keep looking for a clearer patch. The main consideration is simple but important: the Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed, and three hours may feel brief if the sky takes time to clear.

Key points to know before booking

• Your guide actively chases clearer skies: The route can change with cloud cover, daylight, weather, and aurora conditions.
• Professional photos are included: You receive all photos taken during the tour in digital format.
• Jeff has been especially praised for astronomy and photography: Other guides named in the experience include Karolina, Lina, Lena, and Linda.
• The group is capped at eight people: That keeps the car ride and photo sessions more personal than a large coach outing.
• Pickup is within Abisko: Choose from STF Abisko Turiststation, Abisko Mountain Lodge, Abisko Guesthouse, or Hotell Fjället.
• Warm drinks matter: A hot lingonberry drink, biscuits, cookies, and hand warmers have all helped make the cold easier during past outings.

Why this Abisko aurora chase is different

A Northern Lights tour can mean standing outside one hotel, hoping the sky cooperates. This one takes a more active approach. You ride in a car through the night and look for a better place to see the aurora, often away from artificial light and poor weather.

That does not mean the guide can order up a display. Cloud, wind, aurora strength, and timing remain beyond anyone’s control. It does mean you are not tied to one viewpoint for the full evening. The guide can adjust the plan when conditions change, which is useful in Abisko’s fast-moving Arctic weather.

The photo service changes the feel of the night. You can watch the sky with both eyes instead of looking down at a phone screen. The photographer handles the difficult parts of night photography, including positioning and exposure, then sends you the images in digital form.

For many people, this is the real value. A phone may record a green smudge, but a properly set up camera can capture you beneath the aurora with the sky behind you. You still get the memory of seeing the lights, not just a file of the lights.

Starting in Abisko and getting picked up

Pickup is offered at four Abisko locations:

• STF Abisko Turiststation
• Abisko Mountain Lodge
• Abisko Guesthouse
• Hotell Fjället

You should be ready a few minutes before the stated time. Pickup may shift slightly because the guide arranges the order based on weather, daylight, and other conditions. This is normal for a weather-led outing, but it is worth keeping your evening flexible.

There is no pickup from Kiruna. If you are staying there, this tour is not a simple hotel pickup option. You need to arrange your own way to Abisko and select one of the listed pickup points.

The three-hour duration is long enough for a serious attempt without taking over your entire night. It is also short enough that you can fit it into a wider Abisko visit. Keep in mind that the clock includes driving, stopping, setting up photos, and looking at the sky. If conditions are poor at first, the guide may spend valuable time finding a clearer area.

The car chase and changing viewpoints

The main sightseeing portion lasts about three hours and includes transport by car, a guided tour, and photo stops. The exact route is not fixed, which is the point. The guide decides where to go based on the night rather than following a rigid sightseeing circuit.

A good stop may offer darker skies, a clearer horizon, or a better chance of seeing activity through gaps in the clouds. Past outings have included locations in Abisko National Park and remote places with little or no other activity around. That can make the night feel quieter and more personal.

Do not expect a parade of famous viewpoints. The appeal is the search itself. You may stop once if the sky is already clear, or move farther if clouds are blocking the view. One successful outing involved a foggy and cloudy start before the guide found a location where the aurora became visible. Another required a long drive to reach clearer skies after a previous night had failed.

That is also the tour’s main uncertainty. A car chase is not a promise of constant movement or several spectacular stops. The guide may decide that one spot is best and stay there. If the aurora appears strongly, remaining in place can be wiser than spending time driving.

Meeting the photographer behind the camera

The guide is not only a driver. The experience is built around a guide who can explain the aurora, watch the conditions, and take night portraits.

Jeff is the guide most often named in the recent outings. He has been praised for his interest in astronomy, his night photography, and his ability to keep conversation lively during long cold waits. He also shares information about Arctic wildlife, reindeer, stars, and the Northern Lights.

Other names connected with the experience include Karolina, Lina, Lena, and Linda. Their approach may vary, but the central service remains the same: guide the chase and photograph the group.

The personal attention matters most during the photo stops. The photographer may ask you to stand in a certain position, then take several images while adjusting for the dark conditions. Past outings included repeated photo sessions, and one guide was willing to work in the snow to get better angles. You do not need to spend the night learning camera settings or holding your phone up in freezing air.

If you are traveling alone, the small group format can work well. One solo participant had a private-feeling outing when no other participant joined, and the guide continued rather than canceling. That kind of flexibility cannot be assumed every night, but the group limit of eight gives you a better chance of receiving proper attention than a large bus tour.

What the photos are worth at $165

The price is $165 per person. That is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora, but it includes several items you might otherwise need to arrange separately:

• A three-hour car tour
• An English-speaking guide
• A professional photographer guide
• Warm drinks
• Digital photos from the tour
• Pickup and drop-off at the four listed Abisko locations

The photo package is the key value. If you already own a tripod, understand manual camera settings, and only want transport, you may find a simpler aurora outing more suitable. If you want polished portraits without learning night photography in subzero conditions, the included images can justify the higher price.

You also save time and effort. There is no need to find a dark viewpoint on your own, guess which road has clearer skies, or ask a stranger to take a photo. The guide handles the practical work while you watch the sky.

The number and style of photos are not specified, so you should not book expecting a particular count or editing style. The clear promise is that you receive all the photos taken during the tour in digital format. Past participants received images quickly, including the next morning, although one person experienced a delay.

Cold-weather comfort and what to bring

Bring warm clothing. That sounds obvious, but the cold feels sharper when you are standing still beneath an open sky. A thick coat, warm layers, gloves, a hat, and suitable footwear will make the difference between enjoying the aurora and counting the minutes until you can return to the car.

Warm drinks are included. Several outings featured hot lingonberry drink with biscuits or cookies, a small but useful break during a cold wait. One guide also lent hand warmers to a solo participant whose hands were freezing. You should still bring your own cold-weather gear rather than relying on spare supplies.

The car provides warmth between stops, but you will need to step outside for the viewing and photos. Night photography can take time because the photographer may arrange several poses or repeat shots. Good clothing lets you stay outside long enough to enjoy the moment instead of rushing through it.

Children under three are not suitable for this activity. The information does not give a wider age policy, so families with older children should consider the cold, late timing, and three-hour duration before booking.

The guide’s explanations add real value

This is not just a drive to a dark place. The guides explain the aurora and point out stars and local wildlife. Jeff has been especially appreciated for his astronomy background and for making the drive entertaining with humor and stories about the Arctic.

That education is useful even on a less successful night. If clouds reduce the view, you still gain context about what causes the lights, how the sky changes, and what you are looking at when the aurora appears. One outing had a low forecast and heavy cloud, yet the guide’s effort and explanations helped make the night worthwhile when a brief display finally showed.

The guide may also provide music during the drive. One outing included a memorable playlist, which is a small detail but a welcome one during a dark road journey.

You should keep expectations realistic. An explanation of aurora forecasting is not a guarantee that the forecast will come true. The value lies in having someone make sensible decisions with the information available that night.

A clear look at the tour’s limitations

The Northern Lights are never guaranteed. Clear skies give you the best chance, but even clear skies can bring weak aurora activity. Cloudy conditions, wind, and a low aurora index can all work against the outing.

A car chase improves your odds only in certain ways. It may take you away from light pollution or toward clearer weather, but it cannot create aurora activity. You may spend much of the three hours driving or waiting, especially if the guide is trying to reach a better patch of sky.

The tour is also focused on photos and viewing, not a full Arctic camp experience. Warm drinks are included, but the information does not promise a campfire, meal, thermal clothing, or extended outdoor shelter. If those extras matter to you, check carefully before booking another type of tour.

The guide language is English. That works well for English speakers who want explanations during the drive, but it may not suit you if you need another language.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this tour if your top priorities are seeing the aurora from more than one possible location and getting good photos of yourself beneath it. It is particularly useful for solo visitors, couples, and small groups who want a personal photo record without carrying serious camera equipment.

It also suits you if you have only a few nights in Abisko. You cannot improve the weather, but a guide who watches conditions and drives toward clearer skies gives you a more active attempt than simply waiting outside your accommodation.

Photographers who want to control every setting may prefer to work independently. The same goes for visitors who only want a quick look at the lights and do not care about portraits. At $165, part of the price pays for the photographer and the convenience, so you should use those benefits to feel the value.

I would also book it near the start of your stay if possible, leaving another night for a second attempt if your schedule allows. That advice is about the aurora itself, not a promise from the tour. A single cloudy night can defeat even a determined guide.

Booking details worth checking

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Arctic plans are still shifting.

Pickup and drop-off are available at the same four Abisko locations. Drop-off options include Abisko Mountain Lodge, Hotell Fjället, Abisko Guesthouse, and STF Abisko Turiststation.

The activity is offered in English, lasts three hours, and has a maximum group size of eight. Check the starting time when you book, since availability changes and the exact pickup order may depend on that night’s conditions.

Should you book the Abisko aurora car chase?

Book it if you want the guide to handle the driving, weather decisions, and night photography while you focus on the sky. The included digital photos are the strongest reason to choose it, and the small group makes the service feel more personal.

Skip it if you are staying in Kiruna without transport to Abisko, need a guaranteed sighting, or only want the least expensive way to wait for the aurora. No tour can promise the lights.

For most visitors staying in Abisko, I think the combination of a flexible car chase, warm drinks, English guidance, and professional photos makes $165 a fair price. Just arrive dressed for serious cold, keep your evening open, and remember that the best result depends on nature giving the guide something to photograph.

FAQ

How long is the Abisko Aurora Car Chasing Tour?

The tour lasts three hours.

What is included in the price?

The price includes transportation by car, an English-speaking professional photographer guide, warm drinks, and digital photos taken during the tour.

How many people can join the tour?

The small group is limited to eight participants.

Where can I be picked up?

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

Is pickup available from Kiruna?

No. Pickups from Kiruna are not included.

Will I definitely see the Northern Lights?

No. The Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed. Clear nights provide the best chance, and the guide will work to find suitable viewing conditions.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing suitable for cold night conditions.

Are photos included after the tour?

Yes. You receive all photos taken during the tour in digital format.