Photographing the aurora is harder than it looks. The lights move, the sky is dark, and a phone on automatic settings tends to produce a muddy blur. This tour solves the problem by putting a photographer in charge of the evening. After driving out of Kiruna to a dark location, the guide sets up the camera, chooses the foreground and takes portraits of the group with the sky behind them, and in many cases also helps guests with their own cameras and phones. You learn the settings that matter, such as how long to keep the shutter open and how to focus on the stars, and you go home with images that look like the ones in travel magazines. The tour keeps the group size reasonable and still treats the aurora as the main event, so you are not just standing around waiting for the next shutter click. If the lights are strong, the evening can feel like a private show, with the silent green arcs dancing across the sky. If they are weak or hidden, the photographer can still capture the starry sky, and you will learn useful skills for the next night.
How it works
You meet in Kiruna in the evening and travel by vehicle to a dark location chosen on the night. The photographer monitors cloud and aurora forecasts and may change the plan if a better clearing appears. At the stop, you get an introduction to the settings, a moment to practise, and then the photo session begins. Picture sharing is usually done afterwards by link, which saves you from fiddling with your phone in the cold.
What to know
Bring a camera if you have one, but a modern smartphone is fine. A tripod is helpful, and the guide may lend one. Gloves that allow touchscreen use are worth packing, together with a spare battery, since cold drains power quickly. The evening is long and the temperature low, so wear thermal underwear, an insulated jacket, thick socks and boots rated for deep cold.
Pairing
Choose this on the same trip as a daytime snowshoe hike or the Icehotel, and keep the next evening free as a backup. It also suits people who plan to return to a location such as Abisko and want to practise first.
Settings that help
For most cameras, a wide lens, a high ISO, an open aperture and an exposure between five and fifteen seconds is a good starting point, while phones do best with night mode on a tripod and a timer to avoid shake. Focus manually on a distant star or light, and turn off the flash.
The guide can show you how to adjust these if the aurora brightens or fades. Keep a lens cloth handy for frost, and let your camera warm up slowly in a bag when you go back inside, to avoid condensation.
Even if you do not take the perfect shot, learning these basics will make your later nights far more rewarding, whether you are in Kiruna, Abisko or any other dark sky place. Ask the photographer to show you the back of the camera screen as you go, because seeing the faint colours emerge on a long exposure before your eyes can pick them out is one of the quiet thrills of the evening.
What to expect
The experience
A photographer-led aurora tour with a dark-sky location, camera set-up, group portraits and shared photos.
Best time
Clear, dark nights from late August to early April.
How long
Around four to six hours.
Tips
Bring a spare battery, touchscreen gloves and several warm layers.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want good photographs of themselves and the aurora.
- Families
- Teens who like photography will enjoy it, while younger children may find the night long and cold.
- Couples
- Portraits under the lights make a lasting keepsake.
- Pair with
- A daytime activity and a dinner before departure.
- Time needed
- A full evening.
Good questions
Do I need a professional camera?+
No. A smartphone with night mode can take good aurora pictures, and the photographer will help you with settings. A camera with manual controls gives you more options.
Are photos included?+
Photographers on tours like this normally share pictures afterwards, but check the details when you book.
What if the aurora does not appear?+
The sky cannot be guaranteed. Tours usually run in all weather, so ask about the policy for cancellations and rescheduling before you book.
How big are the groups?+
Small to medium, which gives the photographer time for each guest. Check the maximum group size when you book.
What should I bring?+
Warm clothing, spare batteries and gloves that work with a touchscreen. A tripod is useful if the tour does not provide one.