This guide explains why it has such an outstanding record in auroral activity and gives a travellers introduction to the area.

Northern Lights by Jens Ottoson / Fotolia.com

Location

Abisko, a village with an official population of 81, lies in the northwest part of Swedish Lapland. Located  90 Kilometres from Kiruna, which serves as the arrival airport to the region and 40 kilometres from the Norwegian border, it is located 250 kilometres above the Arctic Circle and is reached by train ( 1.5 hours) or by road  (1 hour) from Kiruna. The train ride runs on the same tracks used to carry the precious iron ore mined beneath Kiruna to the port of Narvik in Norway.

Why is it so good for Northern Lights hunting?

There are three main reasons why Abisko ranks as one of the best places in the word for seeing consistent sightings of the aurora.

1. Being situated well north of the Arctic Circle, the northern auroral oval, where the solar winds are drawn towards the magnetic poles, is directly overhead. This in itself is not unique but is significant.
2. The second reason is due to the Gulf Stream which draws warm water up the Norwegian coast and leads to a more moderate climate. Coastal regions can be foggy which affect sightings.
3. The third and unique factor is to do with Abisko falling within what is known as a precipitation shadow. This is the result of the location and shape of the high mountains that separates the coast of Norway from Abisko.  Precipitation rising off the North Sea releases its snowfall west of Abisko which means that Abisko has much less snow than the region as a whole. Locals refer to the ‘hole in the sky’ but there is no denying the fact that Abisko has the most cloud free nights in Sweden.  So marked is this that Björkliden, only a few kilometers away, has much fewer clear nights per season.

In terms of hard facts for the latest season, these are the latest statistics for nightly sightings as recorded by professional Northern Lights photographer Chad Blakley on his night tours:

• Looking at the whole season, 74% of nights between 01 December and the 31 March had the most Aurora activity.
• The lowest month was January at 65% and highest March at 91%.

Northern Lights by ronnihauks / Fotolia.com

Where to see them from

Literally if the skies are clear then you have exceptional chances on any given night to the see the aurora from anywhere in Abisko. For sheer drama you might like to venture by chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station, situated about 300 metres up Mount Nuolja (cost 750 SEK), or consider having the excellent dinner up there (1995 SEK). But this is by no means a necessary expense for seeing the Aurorae.

Where to Stay

Abisko has two main accommodations. The STF Turiststation in Abisko has its roots as one of the stops on the famous 450 km Kungsleden hiking trail which tracks through the mountains of North West Swedish Lapland. The hotel/ lodge has 104 rooms which have seen some modernisation over the last few years. There is a restaurant and lounging area too.

Alternatively there is Abisko Mountain Lodge which has 16 rooms and is run by the welcoming Mina and Dick Johansson. En suite rooms are simple but the communal area and restaurant are packed with atmosphere. The restaurant serves excellent cuisine based on the best local ingredients and is a definite reason for staying.

What to Do

Nights take care of themselves during the aurora season although there are a few enhancements to any itinerary. Besides a night up at the aurora sky station two of the top aurora photographers in the world run courses during the winter months. Chad Blakley and Peter Rosen are both based in Abisko and are worth spending time with, irrespective of whether you are a professional or amateur photographer!

During the day there are numerous things to do. Bookable in advance by your tour operator are husky and snowmobile day tours, both of which have great appeal to most visitors to the region.

For hardier visitors, how about trying your hand at ice climbing up a frozen waterfall in a canyon in Abisko or alternatively spending some time ice fishing on the majestic Torneträsk Lake? This is home to the ice fishing championships and little fishing huts can be seen along the vast length of this lake.

Daytrips from Abisko can either take you towards Kiruna and its neighbour Jukkasjärvi, home to the original and best IceHotel.  Alternatively you can cross the border and descend through the Norwegian Fjords into Narvik, the small interesting port which saw much naval warfare in World War 2. The fjord is still home to a number of sunken German battleships.

Alternatively, for those wishing to learn about Sami life and indeed the mythology of the Northern Lights, then there are a number of settlements within 30 minutes of Abisko that welcome people on Northern Lights tours or day trips where reindeer safaris can be undertaken.

Finally for late season arrivals, the Abisko region is regarded as the best ski destination in Sweden. The main resorts are at Riksgränsen and Björkliden which offer downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross country and snowshoe trails while Abisko itself is regarded as an excellent base for heli-skiing. Dick Johansson at Abisko Mountain Lodge is the pre-eminent guide in the region for this extreme form of skiing.

Northern Lights by Stefan Senft / Fotolia.com

Best time to Go

February and March when the days are getting longer, the climate is at its best and the aurora are consistently good!

About the Author: Kevin Collins is a seasoned Northern Lights expert, having built up a wealth of knowledge over the years about the natural phenomena through his business Weekend a la Carte – a leading specialist in Abisko Northern Lights trips and other top Aurora-spotting travel destinations.

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Cruise ship by Thomas Quine

The influencing factors

In addition to the above geographical factors, you might also have your personal reasons such as the summer holidays or escaping the cold chilling winters at home. Each of these answers would further influence which season is the best for sailing.

The cruise regions mostly have peak seasons, moderate demand seasons and seasons during which demands are the lowest. Earlier the peak season seemed to be the ideal time when the weather used to be at its best in certain regions. But with cruise turning out to be more of a family event, the summer months have now become the peak season period regardless of the weather around or back home. Prior bookings are encouraged for those of you who are looking to book a cruise in the peak time, as most cruises have a limit on the number of children per sail. Each ship would also have a limited number of cabins that would accommodate not more than the specified number of people.

The off seasons can yield some of the best bargains. With the off season being comparatively longer, it also serves as the ideal time for cruising for those who can make it at that time. Alaska and Bermuda have six to seven months of peak period and off season would be at the time of end of the peak season. Panama and Northern Europe, on the other hand, have peak season all the year round.

Below are some popular destinations and the right time to go there:

Alaska: June to August is considered the peak season. This is when the temperatures are at their warmest best. This comes with an added advantage of spotting wildlife too. But with popularity comes a hitch. Higher demands mean prior bookings, almost a year in advance. You might also be surprised to witness congestion in small towns. The low-season periods are May and September.

Australia: The ideal time to cruise in Australia would be from early December to March. This is when the climate is favourable. The least demand would be from May till September. But these being the rainy months carry high chances of cruise cancelation.

Europe: April up till October is the right time for an ideal Europe river cruise. With the spring in full bloom, you could be in for a pleasant surprise too. The low season, on the other hand, is the cold and bitter winter months.

Mediterranean: The best time to cruise here would be between May and September. Most cruises would offer a culture mix of travellers with a plenty of on-board events. Nearing September, you can even avoid the school crowd and still manage to enjoy the warm temperatures.

So, by carefully analyzing your idea of the perfect holiday on a cruise, you should be able to make a favourable choice.

Penny is an expert associated with Boating Hub, a company that provides training on boating. You can view courses at https://www.theboatinghub.com to make your choice.

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Photo by kakslauttanen.fi

In a glass igloo village Kakslauttanen you have a unique opportunity to stay in one of 20 glass igloos, or in a snow igloo. You can enjoy a cocktail in a bar “kota” designed in the shape of a traditional Lapp teepee and snow restaurant for 50 to 150 people. Those interested can also accommodate in one of 40 wooden cottages, most luxurious of them are equipped with bath, fireplace and a Finnish sauna.

Northern Lights above the bed

Glass igloos are built from a special insulating glass, which prevents the icy windows, even if outside temperatures drop below -30 °C. While inside maintains a pleasant temperature between 20 and 22 °C. Guests can observe the aurora (northern lights) directly from their warm beds. Each igloo has its own bathroom.

Snow Igloo is suitable for the rugged natures, in which the temperature ranges from -3 to -6°C. Guests, however, get sleeping bags designed for temperatures up to -32 °C, woolen socks and thermal covers.

Photo by kakslauttanen.fi

Village Kakslauttanen is well equipped and prepared for visitors and offers two saunas for about 100 people. Each sauna is equipped with rest rooms, fireplace, showers and toilets. Hardy can go straight from the sauna to the icy cool pond.

If you visit Kakslauttanen in December, you can participate on ice sculpture contest, which is held annually here. The statues then remain in the ice gallery throughout the year.

Glass Igloo Village is usually open from December or January and remains in operation, depending on the weather, until the end of April, but this area is interesting during the whole year, so you can stay in some of nearby hotels.

For further information about this village visit the site kakslauttanen.fi

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Victor Sounds

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park was founded in 2005 by combining Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park and Ylläs-Aakenus Nature Reserve. It consists of peat bogs, which are surrounded by forests. It is an untouched corner of our planet and is breathtaking to see it with the northern lights (aurora). The local countryside is really beautiful. Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is also very popular in winter, there are ideal conditions for cross-country skiing. The highest peak in the park is Taivaskero, which reaches an altitude of 807 meters above sea level.

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is crossed with a series of marked hiking trails with a total length of 350km. They are suitable both for hiking or cross-country skiing. There are several log huts in the area of the park, where you can rest or even stay for a night. However staying here is not free. The park is home to reindeer.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Victor Sounds

Already mentioned Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park was the first national park in Finland, founded already in 1938. The park was established to protect unique parts of forestless highland areas, which stretch through the forests of Lapland. Finnish national parks are golden treasures of Finland and are waiting for each tourist with open arms.

View Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park – the third largest national park in Finland in a larger map

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Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, Sweden by bjaglin

During the winter season from December to April the aurora borealis light up the sky regularly. Ice hotel is located in the zone of most frequent northern lights occurrence.

Sleeping in a fantastic design rooms between artworks and sculptures made of ice is a great experience. Here you really can enjoy ice and snow. Try some of the non-traditional activities that are available here like a transfer from the airport on the dog sled, snowmobile safaris, ride on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, a night trip on horseback in aurora, hunting expeditions, ice sculpture, reception in the typical Lapland tents or a wild party in a unique Absolut Icebar.

If you love cold and winter, then The Biggest Ice hotel in the world is the best choice for you.

You can find more information about this unique Ice hotel on its official site icehotel.com. If you have ever been accommodated here or in any other ice hotel, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Finnish forests offer not a large number of species. The importance of landscape and forestry has only pine, spruce and birch. With considerable isolation of the country and small population, many species that are now very rare in othe rparts of Europe, survived in the wild here. In southern and central Finland, you can normally see the elk, the largest of nearly seventy species of mammals. There are living several hundreds of brown bears. In addition, there are living arctic foxes, wolves, lynx, marten, muskrat, beavers, otters, wolverines, lemmings, hares and hedgehogs.

All the water in Finland is so clean that also in Tampere – Finland’s third largest city, you can find trouts in the lake that is in the middle of the city.

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