Autumn photo tour in Swedish Lapland

This trip is for all photographers who wish to capture the beauty of Swedish Lapland in its full autumn colour. From your comfortable hotel in Abisko National Park, you’ll go on daily excursions to the best photo spots – either on foot directly from the hotel or by minibus to destinations a little further afield. Highlights include a helicopter flight over the mountains and a ride on a ski lift to the top of a mountain. With a little luck, you may spot moose or reindeer, and you're also in a good location for hopefully seeing the Northern Lights. Your experienced guide will give you valuable tips so that you take home unforgettable memories not only in your heart but also on your camera.

Autumn photo tour in Swedish Lapland: the itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Abisko
After your arrival at Kiruna Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide. Together, you will travel by minibus for about an hour to your comfortable hotel in Abisko National Park. During the journey, you can already admire the vibrant autumn colours and look forward to your time in this beautiful area. At the hotel, you will receive an introduction and briefing, then dinner will be served in the bistro. If conditions are favorable, keep an eye out for the Northern Lights before retiring to your room for a restful night’s sleep.

Meals are provided from lunch on the first day until breakfast on the last day.

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Day 2: The first photo spots
Today you’ll set off early to capture the autumnal landscapes at sunrise. After around two hours of photography at a selected location – be it a picturesque waterfall or a sparkling lake – you’ll return to the hotel for breakfast. The morning is yours to spend as you wish: work on your photos on your laptop, go for a short hike, or treat yourself to a nap. After lunch, you’ll discuss techniques for photographing moving water and the Northern Lights. You’ll also learn how to find the Northern Lights yourself using apps and weather forecasts. In the early evening, you’ll enjoy a light dinner in the self-catering kitchen before setting off to watch the sunset or, if lucky, the Northern Lights.

The following days will all have a similar schedule: early in the morning, you’ll set off for your first photography spot, such as a canyon, a lake, or a waterfall, to capture the sunrise. This is followed by breakfast in the hotel restaurant and a free morning. After lunch, you’ll travel by minibus to the second photography spot of the day. In the evening, you’ll return to the self-catering kitchen for a light dinner and then set off again for the sunset. Alternatively, if conditions are favorable, you’ll prepare for Northern Lights photography.

Day 3: Up the ski lift
On this day, you’ll set off to explore new photo locations once again. In the afternoon, you’ll take the ski lift up a mountain, where you’ll be treated to a nice view of the national park. Weather permitting, you’ll have the chance to capture stunning photos with nature’s autumnal colours as a backdrop. Afterwards, you’ll return to the hotel and can look forward to a cosy dinner. Dining in the self-service kitchen gives you maximum flexibility – ideal for timing your meal to coincide with a beautiful sunset or a possible appearance of the Northern Lights.

Day 4: Helicopter flight over the mountains
Today marks a highlight of your trip: a helicopter flight over the majestic mountains of Swedish Lapland. The group will be split between two small helicopters so that everyone gets a window seat. During the flight towards the Vistas Valley, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the ice-blue river as it winds picturesquely through a landscape of red and yellow hues. Photos will be taken through the helicopter windows.

Day 5 - 6: More photography
On these days, you'll go on further excursions to interesting photo spots. Perhaps you’ll head for a small hidden chapel in the birch forest? Or a railway station in the middle of nowhere? After days spent taking photos, you can relax and unwind in the hotel's sauna in the afternoon. On day 6, you’ll enjoy a three-course farewell dinner at the restaurant and can look back together on the experiences of the last few days. Have your camera ready in case the conditions are good for the Northern Lights in the evenings!

Day 7: Departure
After a final breakfast together at the hotel, it is sadly time to say goodbye. Your guide will take you back to the airport, train station or Kiruna town centre, where you can either head home or, depending on your flight schedule, stay for another night (this night is not included). On the way, take another look at the beautiful Lapland landscape – you might even be lucky enough to spot a moose or a reindeer. You will leave Sweden with many new impressions, memories, and photos in your luggage.

Accommodation:
You will be staying in a comfortable hotel in the heart of Abisko National Park. The cosy shared double rooms (two single beds) are equipped with everything you need and have a bathroom with a shower and toilet. A single room is available at an additional cost. In the afternoons, you can make use of the hotel's sauna.
Your hotel is part of the mountain station, a lively meeting place for hikers and day visitors. However, your itinerary is planned so that you will usually have the photo spots to yourself, either due to the early start or the seclusion of the locations. Next to the hotel, you will find a hostel, a restaurant, a bistro, and a small shop. There are some cosy corners at the mountain station: why not relax in front of the fireplace, for example, or edit your photos while enjoying the view? A visitor center (Naturum) provides further information about the flora and fauna of the national park.

Requirements:
This trip is for anyone who enjoys landscape photography and appreciates mountains, birch forests, rivers, waterfalls, and canyons as photographic subjects. It is suitable for both beginners and advanced photographers – you will be able to work at your own personal level. However, a basic understanding of your own camera is required. Your guide, Olav, will be happy to help with any questions regarding technical aspects and image composition. In addition, you should be able to hike up to 5 km on narrow mountain paths with a small backpack containing your camera and tripod.

Photography equipment:
Please bring your own camera and lenses. We also recommend bringing a tripod and a few filters (e.g. ND8, ND64 and a CP polarising filter) to make the water in your photos look silky smooth.

For landscape photography, lenses such as a 24–70 mm or 24–120 mm are recommended, as these cover most bases. You may also wish to pack a wide-angle lens and a telelens. (For APS-C: something like a 16–50mm or a 16–70mm, and for M43, something like a 12–35mm or 12–60mm will be your main lens).

For the Northern Lights, a lens of 28 mm or wider with a wide aperture of f/2.8 or lower on fullframe is recommended. For APS-C, 18 mm or wider, and for M43, 14 mm or wider.

If you wish to edit your photos during your trip, you should bring your own laptop. Your hosts recommend Lightroom as an editing programme, as they use it themselves and can assist with any queries.

Can I use my drone?
Drones may not be used within the national park or in the area around the hotel. However, the tour includes excursions outside the national park where drones may be used. If you bring a drone with you, please ensure that it is registered. If it weighs more than 250 g, you will need an additional drone licence to fly it.

Clothing information:
You should bring suitable clothing for physical activity and spending time outdoors, such as hiking trousers, hiking boots, warm socks, long johns, a warm fleece or wool sweater, a warm hat, gloves and rain gear.

Weather and temperature:
In the mountains, the weather can be unpredictable – ranging from 15 degrees in sunshine to 0 degrees in rain and snow, there are many possibilities. The nights can already get cold, so you should bring an extra layer if you plan to photograph the Northern Lights – if they are visible. You are in an ideal region for this, but it is a natural phenomenon that we cannot guarantee.
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