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Swedish Lapland
Northern Lights Holidays
to Swedish Lapland
Abisko Northern Lights Holidays
Travel to Abisko National Park — a land of lakes, mountains and pine-forested valleys — and one of the best places to see the Northern Lights.
Classic short breaks in Sweden
Experience the magic of the Arctic on a short getaway to Swedish Lapland, with up to four days of outdoor adventure and aurora hunting.
Exclusive Northern Lights holidays in Sweden
Embark on a luxury Northern Lights holiday to Swedish Lapland, staying in exceptional accommodation and enjoying private tour experiences.
Aurora Nights
Frequently asked questions
Where is Swedish Lapland?
Lapland is a region in the Arctic Circle. It includes parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Swedish Lapland is in northern Sweden. It stretches from Lulea, a coastal town in the northeast of Sweden, to Abisko, which sits close to the border with Norway.
Is Sweden a good place to see the northern lights?
A large part of Swedish Lapland sits in the aurora belt. This is where you’ll find destinations like Abisko, Kiruna and Lulea.
These places are surrounded by wilderness and have very little light pollution. They also have long winter nights. So they’re some of the best places in the world to see the northern lights.
Can you guarantee that I’ll see the northern lights on Sweden aurora tours?
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees. Weather conditions and solar activity are variable. But you do have a very high chance of seeing the aurora borealis in Swedish Lapland. And we do everything we can to maximise those chances.
On an Aurora Nights trip you get aurora wake-up calls. You stay in hotels out in the Swedish wilderness where the northern lights are brightest.
You also go on exciting night time adventures with expert aurora guides. Our guides have unbeatable local knowledge. And they’ll keep a close eye on weather and aurora forecasts so, when the northern lights do make an appearance, you’ll be in the right place to see them.
Read more: Chances of seeing the northern lights
What can you see and do on a Sweden northern lights holiday?
Relaxation. Outdoor adventure. Fine dining. Spectacular natural landscapes. And the aurora borealis overhead. There’s so much to see and do on a Swedish Lapland break.
Depending on your tour and the time of year you visit, you can enjoy activities like these:
- Go ice climbing on a frozen waterfall. Ski and skate your way across the icy sea. Or try your hand at ice fishing.
- Sample Swedish cuisine on an aurora wilderness dinner, out on a frozen lake with the starlit sky and (hopefully) the aurora borealis above.
- Get up close with Arctic animals. Learn the art of mushing on a husky sled, go on a moose safari and take a reindeer sleigh ride through snowy landscapes.
- Embark on snowmobile adventures. Venture above the treeline and onto the Arctic tundra. Or head up to the top of Mount Ednamvarri, a great place to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
- Warm up after winter activities in a private hot tub under the stars. Enjoy traditional Swedish sauna culture. Or treat yourself to a relaxing Swedish massage.
- Go on an aurora photography adventure, with all the kit and expert guidance you need to take beautiful photographs of the northern lights as they dance across the sky.
When is the best time to visit Swedish Lapland?
You can see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland any time from September to March.
In September and October, the landscape blazes with golden autumn colours. From November to March, Swedish Lapland is snowy and cold.
Long nights increase your chances of seeing the aurora. So a winter break is best if seeing the northern lights is your priority. You can even book a northern lights holiday for Christmas or New Year.
If you’re unsure when to visit Swedish Lapland, just get in touch with our team. Tell us what you want to do on your Swedish Lapland aurora trip and we’ll recommend the best month to visit.
What accommodation options are there on a Swedish Lapland holiday?
Hotels in Sweden are like nothing else. Traditional Swedish cottages. Log cabins with their own private hot tubs. Tipis with glass roofs and panoramic windows.
A few standout options? Get closer to the aurora at the Aurora Sky Station atop Mount Nuolja. Spend an unforgettable night in Sweden’s Icehotel. Or stay in one of the unique treehouse rooms at the Treehotel.
Whether you’re travelling with family, as a couple or as a group, we can book accommodation that perfectly fits your requirements.
Why book your Swedish Lapland northern lights tour with Aurora Nights?
When you book a northern lights trip with Aurora Nights, you can count on:
- Tailored trips — we want you to remember your holiday in Sweden forever, so we create bespoke trips tailored to your interests, budget and schedule
- Exceptional experiences — the Aurora Nights team has in-depth knowledge of Swedish Lapland, so our bespoke itineraries are constantly updated to include the very best of the region
- Experienced local guides — our Swedish guides, many of whom we’ve worked with for over a decade, are experts on the local landscape, culture and the aurora
- A hassle-free holiday — the Aurora Nights team takes care of holiday organisation so you can relax and look forward to your northern lights adventure
Whether you book a classic short break, an exclusive aurora holiday to Sweden or an Abisko northern lights holiday, the Aurora Nights team promise to make it extra special.
What’s included in northern lights holiday packages to Sweden?
Each of our northern lights holiday packages to Sweden includes:
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Half-board or full-board dining
- Arctic clothing for the duration of your trip
- Your choice of guided Arctic activities
We can tailor almost every Swedish Lapland holiday package. So let us know if you have your heart set on a particular activity, accommodation or destination.
Please note, flights are not included in our holiday packages. But we do offer advice on the best airlines and airports to use when travelling to Swedish Lapland from the UK or USA.
What should I wear on a northern lights holiday to Swedish Lapland?
In winter months, temperatures in Swedish Lapland don’t rise above freezing. So you should wear warm, comfortable clothing.
We provide Arctic outerwear, including a snow jacket, thermal overalls, snow boots and Arctic gloves.
We recommend that you bring thermals and lots of warm layers. A hat or a head warmer, gloves and warm socks are essential. And you’ll need your own winter coat for arrival and departure.
Read more: What to wear on a northern lights trip
Can I combine a trip to Swedish Lapland with other destinations?
Absolutely. The Aurora Nights team can tailor a northern lights holiday in Sweden to meet your requirements. If you want to book a longer aurora trip, we can plan a holiday that includes Swedish Lapland and any of our other destinations:
- Northern lights holidays in Iceland
- Northern lights holidays in Finland
- Northern lights holidays in Norway
Just tell us where you’d like to go and we can suggest some itineraries.
How do I book my Sweden northern lights holiday?
Start by contacting the friendly Aurora Nights team. You can send us an email, give us a call or fill in the website form. We’ll then chat about dates, accommodation, activities and budget. And plan the Sweden aurora holiday you’ve been dreaming of.
Reviews
See what our clients say
1. Gourmet Cabins was excellent and Johan was a friendly and knowledgeable host. The food, cabins, hot tub and sauna were brilliant.
2. Dog sledge was a fantastic experience and we were given the opportunity to drive our own sledge
3. Snow Mobile – really got off the beaten track and into the spectacular mountains
4. Saw the Northern Lights twice in two days. There is no description that can really do them justice
Nigel Longton
We have never before experienced such friendly and simultaneously professional service! Alex’s communication was super prompt, questions encouraged and welcomed and attended to with great care and detail. Everything was well organised and available on beautifully designed and very useful platforms. Our destination (Mattarahkka Northern Lights Lodge) was fabulous on so many different levels – exquisite views, friendly interactions from everyone on the team, great food, exciting activities, perfectly situated to see the northern lights (seen twice in 4 nights’ stay), a great fire place, and not to mention our fantastic guide Fabio. Their provision of winter kit (hats, down jacket, snow trousers, leather gloves and boots) offered everything we needed to be comfortable outside. All we needed to have packed really were base layers, a few layers of clothing and woollen socks. Defintely somewhere we would highly recommend and return to when possible!
Inge Elliott
Brilliant short break. Hotel Ranga was lovely, excellent food. Managed to see the Northern Lights as well! Iceland on the whole was quite expensive but a lovely place to visit, the people were very friendly.
Linda Palmer
Fantastic trip with great hosts & made even more special by seeing the Northern Lights twice!!
Wendy Naphine
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Sarah Brooks
A fantastic short break which fulfilled all expectations. Well organised with a polished delivery, we could not have asked for more. The accommodation was perfect for us and the guides knowledgeable and helpful. Every day was packed with adventure, each lasting longer than scheduled but we were never rushed; the guides took pride in showing and explaining their beautiful country. We would certainly use Weekend a la carte again and recommend them to others.
Carol Mumford
We had a fantastic 4 nights that included glaciers, waterfalls, geysers, the aurora borealis and more! Lovely hotels, especially Hotel Ranga. We filled every moment and felt thoroughly invigorated on our return.
Frances Harrington
Fantastic service, with every detail taken care of and communicated to your agencies and hotels. Would definitely recommend and will be using again.
Robin Higginson
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