Abisko: Aurora Chasing with Snowmobiles

The best part of this Abisko outing is the freedom to move when the sky changes. Instead of waiting beside a hotel for the Northern Lights, you follow your guide through Abisko Valley, toward the national park, up the mountains, or onto frozen Torne Träsk. The route is chosen for the evening’s conditions, not fixed in advance.

I like the mix of two very different pleasures: driving across the snow and stopping in quiet places far from village lights. I also like that you can ride your own snowmobile, share with a friend, or sit safely in the sled behind the guide. The catch is simple: the aurora is never guaranteed, and cold, clouds, fog, or snow can cut the outing short or make the search longer.

Key points to know

• You may ride across frozen Torne Träsk, one of the most enjoyable parts of the outing for confident drivers.
• The guide changes the route to match the weather, heading for higher ground, Abiskojaure, the national park, or the lake.
• You can choose your riding style, including solo driving, sharing a snowmobile, or riding in the guide’s sled.
• Warm clothing is supplied, including snowsuits, boots, hats, helmets for drivers, and gloves.
• Guides such as Jacob, Fabio, Amanda, and Edward are praised for patient help, local stories, and taking care of people who get cold.
• Bring an EU-valid driving license if you want to drive, and arrive 30 minutes early for instruction.

Why a snowmobile works so well for aurora hunting

Aurora tours are partly about astronomy and partly about being in the right place at the right time. Clouds may cover Abisko village while the sky is clearer a short distance away. Fog may sit in the valley, while higher ground offers a better view. A snowmobile gives the guide more options than a stationary viewing trip.

You begin by moving away from the lights of Abisko. The village is small, but even a little artificial light matters when you are trying to see faint green or white bands in the sky. Once you reach darker ground, the group stops to watch, take photographs, change drivers, and enjoy the snow.

That flexibility is the main reason I see value in this tour. You are not buying a promise of Northern Lights. You are paying for a guided search through a spectacular winter setting, with transport, cold-weather equipment, and a guide who can make practical decisions during the evening.

Starting in Abisko with a 15-minute safety briefing

The meeting arrangements are built around the main places to stay in Abisko. Pickup is available from Experience Abisko, Abisko Guesthouse, STF Abisko Turiststation, and Abisko Mountain Lodge.

If you are staying at STF, pickup is in front of the national park center, Naturum Abisko. At Abisko Mountain Lodge, meet in the parking lot in front of the hotel. These two pickups take place 35 to 45 minutes before the tour begins, while the main instructions at Experience Abisko or Abisko Guesthouse start 30 minutes before departure.

That early arrival matters if you plan to drive. You must be at least 18 and hold a driving license valid in the European Union. The briefing covers how to operate the snowmobile and how to ride safely with the group. If you are new to snowmobiling, do not skip this part or arrive at the last second.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed. Children riding in the sled must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Choosing between your own snowmobile and the guide’s sled

You can select a driving option when booking. That choice is important, since you cannot simply decide on the night that you would like to drive.

Solo driving gives you the most control and makes the journey feel more active. You get to steer through the snow, practice under instruction, and take part in the stops. Sharing a snowmobile with a friend is a good middle ground, especially if you want to trade places during the evening.

The third option is riding in the sled behind the guide. This suits children, non-drivers, and anyone who would rather watch the scenery than handle a machine. It also keeps you close to the guide, though you will have less freedom than someone driving.

Driving is not presented as a technical challenge, but winter conditions still require attention. Wear the supplied helmet, listen carefully to the instructions, and keep the group’s pace. The aim is to reach dark viewing places safely, not to race across the snow.

Following Abisko Valley toward darker skies

The first section usually runs through Abisko Valley along the edge of Abisko National Park. This gives you an early taste of the area’s scale: snowy ground, mountain views, and a much quieter setting than the village.

The valley is also a practical starting point for aurora watching. It gets you away from the strongest local lights without requiring the guide to commit to a single route. At several points, the group stops and scans the sky.

These pauses are useful even if the aurora does not appear immediately. You can photograph the scenery, switch drivers, warm up with a drink, and get used to the darkness. The tour does not consist of three straight hours on a moving snowmobile, which is welcome in very cold weather.

The main limitation here is visibility. Clouds and fog can block the sky even when aurora activity is present. Your guide may decide to continue higher or farther rather than wait in one place.

The national park, Abiskojaure, and changing routes

Depending on conditions, the group may head through the national park toward Abiskojaure. This route adds a stronger sense of wilderness to the ride, with fewer signs of settlement and more open winter scenery.

The exact route is deliberately flexible. Your guide may choose Abiskojaure, climb toward higher ground, or turn toward Torne Träsk. This is one of the places where the guide’s judgment matters more than a printed schedule.

Past guides including Jacob, Fabio, Amanda, and Edward have been praised for explaining the area, sharing stories, and keeping the group comfortable. Jacob in particular is noted for continuing the search through cloudy conditions and taking the group farther north when the first locations did not work. That kind of persistence is valuable, but it can also make the tour last longer than expected.

The advertised duration is three hours, with a typical range of two and a half to three and a half hours. In practice, the total can be anywhere from two to four hours. A strong early aurora or severe cold may shorten the outing. Difficult conditions may lead the guide to keep searching longer.

Riding across frozen Torne Träsk

For many people, the ride across frozen Torne Träsk is the highlight, even when the aurora stays hidden. The lake provides a wide, open setting and a different kind of snowmobile experience from the narrower valley routes.

One useful detail is that the group may have time to ride around the frozen lake more freely. That gives drivers a chance to enjoy the machine rather than treating the snowmobile only as transport between viewing stops.

You should still follow the guide’s instructions closely. Ice and winter terrain demand care, and this is not an unsupervised recreational session. The reward is the feeling of space: open snow, dark sky, and mountains around you.

A full moon may make the scenery brighter and photography easier in some ways, but it can reduce the contrast of faint aurora. One January outing still found bright Northern Lights under a full moon, so moonlight does not rule out a good show. It simply changes the look of the sky.

What happens at the aurora stops

The stops are not just quick photo breaks. You may pause to watch for movement in the sky, take pictures, change drivers, play in the snow, or have a warm drink and light snack.

Do not expect the Northern Lights to look the same as photographs online. Sometimes you may see a faint glow. At other times, the aurora can become bright and clear. Several outings had sightings even with clouds or an uncertain forecast, while others saw no aurora at all.

The guides can help make the most of a short appearance. Jacob was praised for helping with aurora photographs, and the group may benefit from having a guide who knows when to stop and when to move. Still, no guide can control cloud cover or solar activity.

The warm drinks matter more than they may sound. After standing still in subzero conditions, a hot or warm cup gives you a reason to pause and recover. A light snack is included as well, though you should not treat it as a full meal.

Warm clothing and what to wear underneath

The tour supplies warm clothing, including snowsuits, boots, hats, helmets for drivers, and gloves. You should still dress properly underneath. Bring thermal clothing, warm socks, and extra warmth for your hands and feet.

The provided outer layers are meant to go over your own clothes. One useful tip is to wear the supplied clothing on top of what you already have, rather than treating it as a replacement for thermal layers.

Cold is not only a comfort issue. If you are shivering, you will enjoy the snowmobile less and may struggle to concentrate while driving. Tell the guide if you are getting too cold. One guide was specifically praised for helping with socks and offering warm drinks when members of the group began to freeze.

Leave pets, alcohol, and drugs at home. Alcohol and snowmobile driving are an especially poor combination, and the tour does not allow either alcohol or drugs.

Is $105 good value for three hours?

At $105 per person, this is not a cheap evening activity, but the price covers more than an aurora lookout. You receive a guide, a snowmobile or sled ride, safety instruction, cold-weather clothing, a helmet for drivers, warm drinks, and a light snack.

The strongest value comes if you want an active outing rather than a simple bus ride to a viewing spot. You get a chance to drive, explore several kinds of terrain, and see Abisko National Park and Torne Träsk in winter. Even without an aurora, the snowmobile ride can still provide a memorable evening.

The value is weaker if your only goal is to see the Northern Lights at the lowest possible cost. Weather can defeat the main purpose, and there is no compensation for a cloudy sky. You should book this with the right expectation: you are paying for a guided winter adventure with a serious chance of aurora, not a guaranteed light show.

The score of 4.6 from 113 ratings fits the pattern of the experience. The most consistently praised points are friendly guides, clear snowmobile instruction, well-maintained machines, warm gear, and the effort made to keep the group comfortable. Fabio is praised for making first-time drivers feel safe, Amanda for giving beginners time to practice, and Jacob for his humor, persistence, and help with photographs.

Practical timing, pickups, and cancellations

The complete outing is planned for three hours, but allow flexibility. A two-hour evening is possible in very cold weather or after an early aurora sighting. A difficult search may run close to four hours.

Pickup is included from the four listed Abisko locations, with drop-off at Experience Abisko, STF Abisko Turiststation, Abisko Guesthouse, or Abisko Mountain Lodge. Some variation in pickup timing is possible, so keep your evening reasonably open.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option is useful if weather and travel plans are still uncertain.

Who should book this Abisko snowmobile tour?

I would recommend it to first-time snowmobile riders who want instruction and a guide nearby. The activity also suits couples or friends who want to share a machine, families with children who can ride in the sled with an adult, and photographers who enjoy the chance to stop in several dark locations.

It is less suitable if you dislike cold, have limited mobility, or want a quiet indoor aurora experience. You also need to be comfortable with uncertainty. The guide can search for clear skies, but the aurora remains a natural event.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the search itself to be part of the adventure. You will ride through Abisko Valley, possibly across Torne Träsk, and stop in dark places where the sky has room to change. The Northern Lights may appear early, late, faintly, or not at all.

I especially like this choice for visitors who want more than a photo stop. The snowmobile ride gives the evening purpose even when clouds win. Choose your driving option carefully, arrive early for instruction, wear thermal layers under the supplied gear, and judge the value by the whole winter experience rather than by the aurora alone.

FAQ

How long does the Abisko aurora snowmobile tour last?

The planned duration is three hours. The actual outing can last from two to four hours, with two and a half to three and a half hours being typical. Cold weather, an early aurora sighting, or difficult conditions can affect the timing.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from Experience Abisko, Abisko Guesthouse, STF Abisko Turiststation, and Abisko Mountain Lodge. STF pickup is in front of Naturum Abisko, and Mountain Lodge pickup is in the hotel parking lot.

Can I drive my own snowmobile?

Yes, but you must select a driving option when booking. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and hold a driving license valid in the European Union.

Can I share a snowmobile with a friend?

Yes. You may choose to drive your own snowmobile or share one with a friend. The driving choice needs to be made during reservation.

Can I ride in a sled instead of driving?

Yes. You can ride in the sled behind the guide. Children in the sled must be accompanied by at least one adult.

What clothing is included?

The tour includes snowsuits, boots, hats, helmets for drivers, and gloves. You should still bring warm clothing, thermal layers, and warm socks.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

The guide may change locations to search for clearer skies, but the aurora cannot be guaranteed. You will still have the snowmobile ride, scenery, stops, warm drinks, and light snack as part of the outing.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.