Waiting for the Northern Lights is easier on a full stomach. This evening tour pairs a guided aurora hunt with an outdoor barbecue in the Sámi tradition, where reindeer and other Arctic ingredients are cooked over an open fire. After pickup in Kiruna you travel out of town to a quiet spot away from streetlights, where the guides light a fire, serve a warm dinner and keep an eye on the sky between courses. The food gives the evening a rhythm that a plain chase does not have: first the fire, the smell of woodsmoke and the stories, then the call that the lights are starting and everyone steps out to look up. Even on nights when the aurora is shy, you still go home with the sense of having shared a meal in the Arctic wilderness, and the dinner is a useful way to learn about local foods and the Sámi relationship with reindeer. It suits people who like the idea of a chase but want comfort, conversation and something to eat, and it works well as a first-night booking when you are still getting used to the cold.
How it works
The group meets in Kiruna in the evening and travels by vehicle to a campsite or forest clearing. The guides prepare the meal, usually a simple grilled dish with sides and a hot drink, and explain the ingredients as they cook. Once dinner is finished, the focus shifts to the sky, with the guides scanning for clear patches and bright arcs. If the clouds are heavy, the guides may move the group to another spot.
What to know
Dietary needs should be mentioned when you book, since the menu is built around reindeer and other local ingredients. Vegetarian options are often possible with notice, but ask before you pay. Fire sites are cold at the edges even when the centre is warm, so wear full winter clothing. Sit on the insulated seat pads if they are provided, and keep your phone inside a pocket close to your body so that it lasts longer.
The cultural side
Reindeer meat is a staple of the Sámi diet and is usually dried, smoked or grilled. Sharing it around the fire gives a small taste of a way of life that has depended on the herds for centuries. If the guides are happy to talk, ask about the seasonal migrations, the colours of the traditional clothing and the way the Sámi read the weather.
Pairing
An easy partner for a daytime snowshoe walk or the Sámi day tour. The long evening means it is best to keep the following morning free, and to avoid an early alarm.
Practical details
Tour times shift through the season because the sky gets dark earlier in midwinter and later at the edges of the aurora season, so the pickup time may be mid-afternoon in December and well into the evening in September. Bring a small bag with a spare hat, dry socks and hand warmers, because the fire warms your front while your back stays cold.
The meal is meant to be shared and unhurried, so arrive hungry but not desperate. If the sky erupts mid-course, nobody will mind if you put your plate down and walk away to look up. Photographs taken by the guides are often sent afterwards, so you can enjoy the moment rather than hurry to record it.
What to expect
The experience
A guided aurora evening with an open-fire barbecue dinner in a Sámi-inspired setting, followed by sky watching.
Best time
Winter evenings from late August to early April, with the darkest and coldest nights in midwinter.
How long
Roughly four to five hours.
Tips
Mention dietary needs when you book and wear full winter layers for time around the fire.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want food, fire and the aurora in one evening.
- Families
- A calmer pace than a long chase, which suits older children, though the late night remains.
- Couples
- A warm, atmospheric dinner with a chance of lights overhead.
- Pair with
- A daytime Sámi experience or the Icehotel.
- Time needed
- An evening, with a late return.
Good questions
What food is served?+
Typically a grilled meal with local ingredients such as reindeer, with sides and a hot drink. Check the details when you book.
Can vegetarians join?+
Often yes, with advance notice. Contact the operator when you book to arrange it.
Is the aurora guaranteed?+
No. The tour improves your chances by choosing a dark site and watching the sky, but cloud and low activity can limit the show.
Do I need to bring my own gear?+
Bring warm clothing and a camera or phone. Any rental or loan items depend on the operator.
Where do we eat?+
Outdoors by a fire or in a heated shelter, depending on the site and weather. Dress for the cold either way.