Most people associate seeing the northern lights with snowy landscapes, huskies and snowmobiles. However Lapland’s neglected secret is that some of the best aurora sightings take place in the autumn months.
Autumn Aurora in Sweden
Once the midnight sun starts to fade and the Arctic nights draw in the Northern Lights return. In reality aurora displays kick off from late August, perfectly timed for our northern lights holidays which start from September and run through October.
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Frequently asked questions
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Different colors of autumn
By travelling early in the autumn you also will witness the spectacular autumn colours as the landscapes prepare for winter. The trees deliver a kaleidoscope of shades from yellow to brown and red through to purple which framed against the dramatic setting of Norway’s Lofoten islands or the fells in Swedish Lapland leaves a lasting impression.
This is the time of the fly drive holiday. With excellent road networks and limited traffic you can really get out there and explore the stunning landscapes of Swedish and Norwegian Lapland.
So how long should you go for?
In a nutshell the journey can be expanded to fit in with your ambition. We can open up the whole of Swedish Lapland from the Lulea Archipelago to Abisko and then if you wish to venture further why not drop down into Norway at Narvik and continue your journey to the Lofoten Islands, Norway’s crown jewel. From 4 days to 2 weeks the opportunities of seeing the northern lights in Autumn are endless.
Lulea region
Lulea lies on the eastern coast of Swedish Lapland and is accessible through a schedule of 6-8 flight connections a day from Stockholm on either SAS or Norwegian. The city itself is vibrant due to its university status and has a growing number of excellent restaurants. Nearby is the UNSECO site of Gammelastad, the 15th century UNESCO world heritage church village which is worth a visit on an autumn northern lights trip.
20 minutes outside town Pine Bay lodge and Brando Lodge are nestled on the fringes for the Bay of Bothnia. Run by our long standing partner Goran Widen they offer authentic accommodation in a good location. Boat trips out to the remote islands in the Bay of Bothnia along with an island lunch complement night time boat trips in search of the northern lights, or land based northern lights adventures.
Moving inland there are a number of fabulous places to stay in the Autumn. The iconic Tree Hotel with its whacky themed rooms ranging from a UFO to a Birds nest makes for an interesting night’s stay on an autumn northern lights trip to Sweden.
Further inland set in a pristine river valley is the Artic Retreat; 4 luxury log cabins set on a bend in the river and surrounded by pine forests that are the perfect chill out place. Enjoy delicious food based on autumn produce, a Swedish massage or simply soak up the atmosphere in your private outdoor hot tub. Autumn holiday experiences include canoeing the river in search of beavers to visiting a Sami family. Northern Lights activities are planned locally depending on the forecast.
An action packed northern lights holiday tying in the coastal region of Lulea with the Tree Hotel and the Arctic Retreat is our Autumn Tree Hotel and Aurora Retreats break
This six day journey can either be done using private transfers or on a self-drive holiday.
If you are planning to do an Autumn northern lights holiday combining the east and west parts of Swedish Lapland then it’s a 4 hour drive on the E10 to go from Lulea to Kiruna and then another hour to Abisko.
Why not break this journey with a stay at Sapmi Nature Camp? Run by Lennart Pittja this authentic luxury Tepee camp is a fantastic addition to the Swedish Lapland scene. In autumn there are fewer better places to experience the changing seasons as the camp is set on the edge of the Lapponia national park.
Kiruna Region
If you thought you could only stay in the ICEHOTEL in winter – think again. ICEHOTEL365 is open all year round offering the genuine ICEHOTEL experience on an autumn Northern Lights trip.
A perfect complement to this are the 2 Arctic Gourmet Cabins set in a picturesque river valley with the mountains at Nikkaloukta nearby this is a place to relax or go for walks or boat trips. As its autumn the region is bearing its harvest of wild berries, mushrooms and other delicacies. Foraging and outdoor meals are a super way of experiencing the great outdoors. Run by a local couple Johan and Malin one of your treats is experiencing Johan’s great meals cooked and served in ‘ Sweden’s smallest restaurant’.
Abisko
Abisko rightly carries the tag of being probably the best places on earth for regular sightings of the northern lights. Basing yourself here for a couple of nights should be on any autumn aurora hunter’s itinerary. Our dear friends Mina and Dick Johansson welcome travellers to Abisko Mountain Lodge with effortless hospitality. Abisko is beautifully situated and is a region where walks are rewarded with splendid views or pristine wilderness.
To do Swedish Lapland well on an Autumn Northern Lights Holiday you should allow 10 days to get to see as much as possible or if you want ba short sharp experience then 4/5 nights in either the Lulea or Kiruna/ Abisko regions works well.
Norway extension
If you get as far as Abisko on your Northern Lights adventure then an hour down the E10 you reach the Norwegian coast at Narvik. Whether on day trip from Abisko or as an extension to the Lofoten islands ( 4 hour drive from Narvik),Norway offers a completely different holiday experience. The Lofoten islands in the Autumn months are beautiful. Spectacular mountain scenery, evocative fishing villages, autumn colours and Northern Lights amalgamate to produce a stunning short break. Take a look at our Lofoten Autumn Aurora Panorama and Fjords trip for a four night self-drive programme to this majestic corner of Norway.
See what our clients say
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.
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.
This was a bucket list trip. The company are specialists and I’ve valued their advice. Everything from the when to go for the best opportunity to see the lights and equipment needed and provided.Our activities included, the Ice Hotel, night photo shoot, snowmobiling, guided walk and the sky station meal. All excellent and well run by knowledgeable experts and guides. The Abisko Lodge is warm comfortable and relaxing the food is excellent and the staff welcoming, friendly and very helpful. I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a different and exciting experience.
My daughter and I had an amazing time on our trip, we didn’t want it to end! Everything went according to plan, each excursion was well organized and everyone involved with each activity, as well as everyone at the lodge was kind, friendly, positive and happy, which makes such a difference to your whole experience. The food at The Abisko Mountain Lodge was also incredibly good. Our room was large, comfortable and well-furnished. The bathroom too was also spacious and well-equipped. The outdoor clothing provided was of very good quality which kept us warm, and the staff members are happy to change items if they are not quite the right size for you. This is my second trip with Weekend a la carte and I’m sure there will be more as I have complete trust in them. I highly recommend Aurora Nights, it was fabulous.
What a fantastic trip! I booked this for myself and my husband to celebrate my 40th birthday and it didn’t disappoint! Booking was simple and we were kept up to date with all the details from the office team in the UK.
From the moment we arrived at Kiruna airport all the staff we encountered were so friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. We opted for the upgraded room at the Abisko Mountain Lodge which I would highly recommend. The cold weather clothing which was supplied was fantastic and kept us really warm in the sub-zero temperatures. The dog sledging, snowmobiling and the Northern Lights photography were all superb and the staff leading the trips were really friendly and so knowledgeable. Even though we weren’t able to do the sky station trip because of the weather, there was a lovely alternative evening organised for us which included a traditional dinner and a walk to the lake where we were able to see the lights. The food at the lodge was also exceptional and showcased some lovely traditional dishes using Moose and Reindeer which were wonderful to try.
I would like to send a massive thank you to all the staff at The Abisko Mountain Lodge as well as the guides we used for our guided walks, dog sledging and snowmobiling. I’d highly recommend the trip, it was our first visit to Sweden and we would definitely return. Thanks again to everyone (including the huskies) who made it so memorable!
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.
We had a wonderful time! The food at the lodge was amazing and there were some great vegetarian dishes. I had the best beetroot I’ve ever had (beetroot tartare).
Everyone was really friendly and all the guides were good fun and very knowledgeable.
A special thanks to William and Petri who were really friendly and really added a personal touch to our trip. The activities were really well planned and we especially enjoyed the trip with the huskies. The area we were in is stunning and the lodge was very nice. We would definitely recommend this to friends and family.
Thank you for arranging a fabulous holiday, we had a really enjoyable time and would love to return in the future. Hotel Ranga is a lovely place to stay and the owner greeted guests in the restaurant, which was an unexpected welcoming touch. We didn’t see the Northern Lights due to the weather and the trip to the Eyjafjallajokull glacier and volcano was substituted by an excursion to Thorsmork, also due to the weather, which we thoroughly enjoyed; the brochure description doesn’t do it justice. We found Iceland and the people there really charismatic. Although the wind and snow cut short the amount of travelling we could do, we still covered a reasonable amount of what we wanted to see and our appetites are whetted for a return, perhaps in Spring or Summer. We found a couple of great places to eat near the Hotel in Reykjavik. Messin does tasty fish dishes and the Icelandic Street Food restaurant was excellent, offering simple but hearty soups with refills included in the price – great value.
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