Photography tour: Northern Lights of Swedish Lapland

This photography tour takes you right into the heart of the nature and wildlife of Swedish Lapland. In one of the best regions for observing the Northern Lights, you will find the perfect conditions for impressive shots. If they appear during your stay, your hosts will be happy to let you know. They are Kristin, Olav and their 35 huskies, who have been living here for over 15 years. Kirstin's hospitality and cooking skills will make you feel right at home, while Olav will be your guide for your photography and wilderness adventures. From your cosy cabin, located right next to the husky farm, you will travel every day in a minivan in search of the best landscape locations and wildlife. You will also experience a dog sled ride! The perfect holiday for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts looking for a new adventure.

Northern Lights of Swedish Lapland: the itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lapland
Upon your arrival around lunchtime, you will be warmly welcomed with a hot drink around the campfire. After settling into your wilderness cabin, you will be provided with warm clothing and take a short hike to the lake to spot good locations for seeing the Northern Lights. Back at the cabin, you will receive an introduction to the techniques you need to photograph the Northern Lights, and your guide will give you valuable tips on how to get the best shots. You will also learn the best ways to find the famous natural spectacle yourself with the help of apps and weather forecasts. Every evening, dinner is served in a timmerkåta, a type of wooden teepee with a fireplace in the middle. Look forward to typical local dishes!

Day 2: Photographing at sunrise
Today, you will set off early to be at the first photo spot in time for sunrise. Your subject will be an open river that flows into a frozen lake. Afterwards, you will head to the next location of the day: a nature reserve with frozen waterfalls. At lunchtime, you will visit a restaurant and then return to the base camp. With a bit of luck, the Northern Lights will shimmer in the night sky after dinner, offering you an incomparable chance for great pictures.

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Day 3: Visiting reindeer
The day begins with a hearty breakfast at your cabin before you visit a reindeer camp and meet Helena. You will learn more about the fascinating culture of the Sami people and have the opportunity to photograph the reindeer up close. For lunch, gather around a fire and enjoy a meal prepared over the warming flames. In the evening, you can relax in the traditional woodstove sauna and cool off in the snow afterwards. The day comes to an end with a delicious dinner in the timmerkåta.

Day 4: Meeting with a nature photographer
After breakfast, you will visit a local nature photographer at her mountain farm. There, you are allowed to use her bird hides, giving you great opportunities to take amazing pictures of birds in the white snow. Look out for the Siberian Jay, which is typical of the far north. Later that day, you will hike on a frozen river for some impressive landscape photos with the surrounding mountains in the background. After dinner, it is worth having a look at the sky. Far away from any light pollution, the conditions are ideal for observing the Northern Lights.

Day 5: Trip towards the mountains
Today, you will go on a trip towards the mountains, where you can look out for moose and reindeer. Take in the amazing views and once-in-a-lifetime encounters with the Arctic wildlife. You will enjoy lunch in a restaurant in a small mountain village. After returning to the base camp, dinner will be served before you can relax in your cabin. Get plenty of rest tonight, because one of the highlights of this trip awaits you the next day.

Day 6: Husky sled ride
It's finally time to meet the lively huskies, who will take you on a tour of their world today! Once you have received an introduction with all the important information about dog sledding, you will step onto the runners and let your four-legged team pull you into the untouched nature of Swedish Lapland (2 persons / sled). Experience the white winter world from a whole new perspective and feel the impressive speeds these animals are capable of. An excellent way to round off your trip! Lunch will be prepared over a fire today.

Day 7: Departure
After breakfast in your cabin, it is unfortunately time to say goodbye. You will be taken to the bus or train station, from where you will begin your journey home. You will leave magical Swedish Lapland with many special memories that will stay with you for a long time.

Accommodation:
During your photography trip, you will stay in a wilderness cabin on the edge of a forest, near a frozen lake and next to a husky farm. The cabin offers simple but comfortable accommodation. There is electricity and 4G internet access, but water comes from a water canister with a tap. You won't find a shower, but a washroom inside and a traditional woodstove sauna where you can wash in the evening. The cabin is heated by a heat pump, which keeps it at a constant, comfortable temperature. An outhouse serves as a toilet, equipped with a Styrofoam seat so that you can sit comfortably warm even on the coldest days. The cabin has two bedrooms: a 2-person room with 2 single beds and a 4-person room with 2 bunk beds. Right on your doorstep, you will find the best conditions for viewing the Northern Lights!

Requirements:
To enjoy this trip, you should love nature and photography, but also be somewhat adventurous. You are expected to have a basic knowledge of your camera. However, your guide Olav will be happy to answer any questions you may have about photography and will help with technical issues and image composition.

Important information:
Your hosts aim to create a 100% smoke-free and fragrance-free environment, and therefore respectfully ask smokers to book elsewhere. We also kindly request that you refrain from using strongly scented products such as deodorant or perfume during your holiday.

What should you bring with you?
For photographing the Northern Lights, you will need a system camera and a tripod, as well as a wide-angle lens (28 mm or wider) with large aperture (f2.8 or wider). For photographing wildlife, you should bring a tele lens, e.g. 100 - 400 mm. For landscapes, a 24 - 70 mm lens is a good choice. (For APS-C: 18 mm or wider for the Northern Lights, 70 - 300 mm or longer for wildlife and 15 - 50 mm for landscapes / For M43: 14 mm or wider for the Northern Lights, 50 - 200 mm or longer for wildlife and 12 - 40 mm for landscapes).

How to get there:
If you are travelling from abroad, you can fly to Arlanda/Stockholm Airport and then take the comfortable night train directly from the airport to Murjek, where you can be picked up. It is a relaxed and comfortable way to get there, and it is better for the environment - however, it does take a little longer than travelling by plane. Please note that you can only be picked up from the train that arrives at noon, not from the train that arrives in the morning.

Alternatively, you can book a connecting flight from Stockholm/Arlanda to Kallax Airport in Luleå. From Luleå, you can take bus line 44 from the bus station in the city centre to the husky farm in Kåskats (bus stop: Vuollerim). There is a special air taxi (line 712) at a greatly reduced price. You must book this special air taxi in advance and be able to show the flight number of your connecting flight. We can make the booking for you as well.

If you depart on the night train from Murjekt at 21:00, your trip will unfortunately already end on day 6 after dinner. If you depart via the bus to Luleå, you will stay another night in your cabin next to the husky farm. The bus to Luleå departs at 08:20 on the next day.

Extend your stay!
Extend your holiday by either arriving a day early or staying a day longer! We recommend spending a night in Luleå before your journey home. How about taking a stroll on the frozen sea directly from the city centre?

Note:
During your stay, there may be days when husky tours with other guests depart. However, this will not affect you in any way and you are welcome to watch the dog teams set off.
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