About Sweden
The average population of Sweden is around 23 people per km². This compares to the European average of around 100 and makes it Northern Europe’s most sparsely populated country. The wilds of Swedish Lapland influence this figure hugely. This is a region which is low in people and high on natural wonders and is perfect Aurora viewing territory. From the pack ice fields of the Luleå Archipelago to the sweeping Torne River and the mountains of Abisko, Sweden can offer some simply staggering sights.
As well as its natural wonders, Sweden is home to some pretty incredible man-made ones too for this is the home of the renowned Treehotel and the globally acclaimed ICEHOTEL®. Our holidays offer the chance for you to stay in both hotels so you can tick many items off your bucket list all at once.
We have spent many years building a comprehensive range of unforgettable Northern Lights holidays in the region so that our guests can enjoy not just the headline experiences but also some of the lesser-known highlights. As well as Northern Lights activities, our itineraries take in a range of incredible experiences such as dog sledding, snowmobiling, hovercraft tours, ice climbing and much more.
Of course, all of the holidays have one thing in common, their exceptional Aurora viewing opportunities. It is this Aurora potential which has drawn us to the parts of Sweden we feature today. We focus on places such as Abisko (well- known as prime territory in Aurora hunting circles) and Luleå, a place where the frozen sea provides your Northern Lights viewing platform.
Winter in Sweden
Our Aurora hunting holidays in Sweden take place between December and the end of March and are designed to coincide with the arrival of the snow and prime Northern Lights potential.
Temperatures here generally sit between a pretty brisk -6°C to -20°C but they can drop lower at night. However, we provide you with appropriate winter clothing so staying warm is not an issue.
The Arctic night also means that during the depths of winter, in December and January, there are periods in which the sun does not rise above the horizon. During this time the days are obviously short but the period around midday does offer a unique Polar light, casting a blue-coloured dusk across the landscape.
As winter turns to early spring, the daylight hours extend quickly and you can combine longer daylight hours in the Great Outdoors with Northern Lights hunting at night (you just need to stay up a little later for Northern Lights hunts).
A Smörgåsbord of Aurora hunting options
Our travels and research have led us to focus our attention on two specific parts of Sweden, both of which offer something totally different.
Abisko is a small village set in the mountains and on the edge of one of the largest national parks in Sweden. The unique topography here is such that cloud cover is not as common, creating great Aurora viewing conditions. Based at Abisko Mountain Lodge, your hosts Mina and Dick ensure that guests get to experience the region at its wild and wonderful best. Our recommendation is that you take advantage of the tailor-made option we feature here. Our Travel Experts will help you craft your own Aurora hunting trip.
To top off your stay at Abisko we can arrange for you to extend your stay at the world-renowned ICEHOTEL® in Jukkasjärvi which is an unforgettable experience.
To the southern end of Swedish Lapland, on the northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, sits Luleå. Now, we try and avoid overusing the word unique in our office, but when it comes to Luleå it is correctly deployed.
The Luleå archipelago is a collection of fascinating islands and, in the winter months, the Gulf freezes to form pack ice which surrounds the islands.
Our accommodation options at either Brändön Lodge or Pine Bay Lodge are situated on the shores of this sea ice and offer views across what is a pretty remarkable landscape. The ice forms a wonderful platform for activities such as snowmobiling and a thrilling hovercraft tour, but it comes into its own as an Aurora viewpoint. Imagine standing on the frozen sea and watching the Northern Lights dancing above your head!
With very little light pollution, the views of the night sky can be exceptional from out on the ice. One of our colleagues here at The Aurora Zone rarely tires of reminding us of the time she watched the most incredible Northern Lights whilst lying on the sea ice, just outside Pine Bay Lodge!
From Luleå, we can also arrange for you to extend your stay and enjoy an unforgettable night at the Treehotel, which will surely tick off another item from your bucket list.
Photography by Andreas Wälitalo, Lola Akinmade Akerström, Graeme Richardson, Staffan Widstrang, Anna Öhlund, Mikko Nikkinen, Tomas Jönsson, ICEHOTEL, imagebanksweden.se & Treehotel
