Chasing the Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland
Small-group aurora adventure and photography tour · Luleå
Experience the Northern Lights in the winter landscapes of Swedish Lapland during the New Moon period, when darker skies provide the most favourable conditions for viewing and photographing the aurora. This small-group tour is led by professional photographers and veteran aurora chasers Andy Keen and Alex Keen, who will guide you through the frozen forests and coastline of the Arctic while sharing their combined experience of chasing the lights across more than 16 years beneath Arctic skies.
Designed for photographers of all levels, as well as travellers who simply want to experience the thrill of searching for the aurora.
What's Included
Included
- Three guided aurora chasing excursions (20:00–00:00)
- Introductory aurora photography workshop
- Two daytime photographic excursions
- Visit to Gammelstad Church Town
- Winter landscape photography in the forests and frozen coastline
- Photographic guidance from Andy Keen and Alex Keen throughout
Not Included
- Flights to and from Luleå
- Return airport transfers from Luleå Airport
- 4 nights accommodation in Luleå, bed and breakfast
- Breakfast, lunches and evening meals
- Personal health and travel insurance
- Optional activities outside the itinerary
- Personal expenses
Tour Itinerary
Guests should arrive at the hotel in Luleå no later than 15:00.
15:30 – 17:00Welcome meeting and Aurora Photography Workshop, covering:
- Camera setup for aurora photography
- Focusing in darkness
- Exposure settings
- Lens selection
- Composition
- Understanding aurora forecasts
If weather conditions and solar activity are favourable, the first aurora chase may take place (20:00–00:00). If so, one of the later evenings will become a free evening.
Daytime excursion to Gammelstad Church Town, a beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage site featuring historic wooden houses surrounding the medieval stone church. An exceptional location for winter photography.
Daytime Excursion 12:30 – Pick-up 15:00 – Drop-off Evening · Aurora Chase 20:00 – 00:00Daytime landscape photography exploring the snowy forests and frozen coastal scenery surrounding Luleå, focusing on:
- Winter landscape composition
- Photographing Arctic light
- Working with snow and frozen water environments
Guests may relax, explore Luleå independently, or take part in optional winter activities.
Evening · Aurora Chase 20:00 – 00:00Breakfast and transfers to Luleå Airport for departing flights.
Seen enough? Only 4 places remain.
Two places have already been taken. If you're interested, it's worth getting in touch sooner rather than later.
Secure Your Place Now →All enquiries handled personally by Andy and Alex
Luleå sits in Norrbotten County — Sweden's largest and northernmost county, extending well above the Arctic Circle and covering 106,000 km² of boreal forest, frozen coastline, river delta, and mountain wilderness. To put that in perspective, it is larger than Iceland. Despite its size, fewer than 250,000 people live here, making much of the county some of the least densely populated land in Europe.
To the west of Norrbotten lies Laponia — a UNESCO World Heritage Site often described as one of Europe's last great wildernesses, encompassing four national parks and two nature reserves across nearly 940,000 hectares of untouched Arctic landscape. It is also one of the few places in the world where an entire way of life — including the seasonal migration of reindeer herds — has been maintained for thousands of years.
The name Lapland has a complicated history. It derives from Lapp, a term used by outsiders for the Indigenous Sámi people. Today that term is widely considered outdated and is regarded by many Sámi as insensitive. The Sámi themselves refer to their traditional homeland as Sápmi — a cultural region spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia's Kola Peninsula.
The Sámi are the only recognised Indigenous people of the European Union, numbering approximately 80,000 across all four countries. In Sweden, they hold legal rights to fish, hunt, and graze reindeer on ancestral lands — rights that predate the existence of Sweden as a nation. Their languages, traditional clothing (gákti), and knowledge of the Arctic environment represent one of the most enduring cultural traditions on the continent.
The word Lapland remains in common use across tourism, geography, and everyday language — including on this page — because it is the widely understood name for the region in an international context. It is used here in that spirit, with the understanding that the land we are visiting is Sápmi, and that its Indigenous culture and people deserve both recognition and respect.
Why Luleå?
Unlike the more heavily visited Northern Lights destinations such as Reykjavík or the increasingly popular landscapes of Lofoten, the region around Luleå remains refreshingly quiet and largely off the beaten track.
Within a short drive of the town we can reach truly dark skies, surrounded by forests, frozen coastal landscapes and vast Arctic wilderness where light pollution is minimal. The region is sparsely populated, and during our night excursions it is often more likely to encounter wildlife such as reindeer or moose than other people.
Photography & Equipment
This tour is open to everyone, whether you are a keen photographer or simply wish to experience the adventure of searching for the Northern Lights.
No specialist equipment is required to enjoy the tour. Guests may bring cameras and tripods if they wish, but modern smartphones are also capable of capturing impressive aurora images, and guidance will be provided on how to photograph the lights using both cameras and phones.
Why These Dates?
The tour takes place during the New Moon period beginning 8 March 2027, when darker skies provide the most favourable conditions for viewing and photographing the aurora in Swedish Lapland.
March is one of the most productive months for aurora activity in the region, combining reliably dark nights with a high frequency of geomagnetic events.
Places are limited to 6 participants · All enquiries handled personally by Andy and Alex
By registering your interest and confirming a booking for this experience, you agree to be bound by the Northern Lights Guide Terms & Conditions. Please read them carefully before making a booking. Northern Lights Guide is owned and operated by Andy Keen.
Register Your Interest – Only 6 Places Available
If you’d like to reserve a place on the Luleå Aurora Hunt in March 2027, or if you have any questions about the tour before committing, fill out the form below and I’ll come back to you personally.
With over 16 years of Arctic guiding experience and a 95% aurora success rate, this is a small-group expedition led by someone who has spent more than 10,000 hours beneath northern skies. Places are limited to six — so if you’re interested, it’s worth getting in touch sooner rather than later.