Post: #1

Not sure about gaming since it seems like a fairly small town, but then it is in Sweden... But my interest is in seeing the Aurora Borealis and apparently this town, or at least a nearby National Park, is the best spot in the world to see them.

So, if anyone has been I would be very grateful if they could provide a data sheet. Others can add questions, but I am specifically interested in:

1) The best way to get there from Stockholm (cheap overnight train, or fly in)
2) Good place to stay. Not the Ice Hotel. Too expensive. Looking more at budget options.
3) How long to stay. I have heard one week in Jan/Feb round the time of the new moon is good if you want a near guaranteed chance of seeing the lights.
4) What do you do in a small Swedish town in mid-Winter for one week while waiting for something to happen. Apparently it is dark almost all day in January.

Many thanks in advance. If any others have info on viewing the Aurora Borealis please do contribute.

Post: #2

Join a tour.

Also look around on facebook pages for erasmus students and see what week they book their tours on. Hit up the place on the same week.

Everyone stays in cabins, and will obviously just party at the cabins in their campgrounds.

Post: #3

Hey Hussar,
this fresh article is probably exactly what you're looking for.
Northern Lights from Sweden's Aurora Safari Camp

Quote:A snug retreat in the Arctic, Sweden's Aurora Safari Camp is in prime position for Northern Lights displays.

Gazing up at the swirling, neon majesty of the Northern Lights is usually as chilblain-inducing as it is jaw-dropping. Which is why the opportunity to survey one of the world’s most magnificent natural wonders with a warming glass of wine in hand, roaring fire mere feet away from the comfort of your own snuggly blanket, is really rather appealing.

Equal parts glamping trip, safari adventure and Northern Lights tour, the Aurora Safari Camp experience offers all the serenity and bucket list-ticking awe of the Arctic but with a spectacularly stylish, culturally informed and personable twist. Hidden on the outskirts of Lulea, a remote Swedish township situated on the edge of the Arctic Circle, the camp consists of five Sami-inspired, perma-glowing Lavvu tents (comfy mattress, wood-burning stove, and the ability to withstand temperatures of up to -37C mercifully come as standard). Outside there are gloriously uninterrupted views of the Aurora-filled night sky, and a permanently toasty lounge area in which to unwind with the finest of local organic dining, such as dried moose meat and delicious lingonberry juice - now's a particularly good time to try these delicacies, with fine-dining restaurants such as northern Sweden's Faviken bringing global recognition to this region's cuisine.

The camp also has a charming and welcoming host, the founder, Fredrik Broman, who came up with the brilliant idea of creating a Scandinavian safari after working as a guide in African parks. Whether he is kitting you out in the cosiest of reindeer pelts, drilling holes in the frozen lake for a spot of ice fishing, snowmobiling you into the heart of the wilderness on a stargazing tour or introducing you to the town’s local reindeer herder and his pack of purebred Siberian huskies for a spot of sledding, he makes Arctic adventures as bespoke, polished and surprisingly comfortable as anything can be in these eyeball-freezing temperatures.

Full-board accommodation at Aurora Safari Camp costs from £350 per person per night, which includes transfers and some activities

   



I would probably suggest Luleå instead of Kiruna, since Luleå has more inhabitants, being a bigger city and closer to the Swedish mainland than Kiruna.
Kiruna is the northernmost town of Sverige.

Post: #4

Check out :

http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/

They have a 3-day forecast, so if you are flexible on your departure date then you can go when it is more of a sure thing.

Post: #5

Thanks for the responses. Would have to plan ahead since I'd be travelling from South Africa with a brief stop in the Netherlands for business. But I'd have to have pretty bad luck not to see them in a good spot in one whole week in mid-Winter. Hadn't considered campsites since I thought they'd be closed in winter. But I guess their cabins can always be heated.

Will check out Lulea. Only latched onto Kiruna since the nearby Abisko National Park is rated as the best spot in the world to see the lights. But it's all relative. Lots of other places are no doubt also very good.

Post: #6

Take pictures, this is on my life to do list!

Post: #7

Finnish Lapland is just as good, and probably cheaper due to the currency. It is still some next level expensive, but that is to be expected due to the location.

But let me just say, the Northern Lights are worth it. There's nothing in the world like seeing them. I've seen them twice (once in Lapland, once in Turku) and I have to say that they made me feel some other level insignificant.

As for gaming, screw gaming at that point. Take the train/bus/plane to Helsinki or Stockholm to game. Go to Lapland to have an existential experience. And sauna (bastu in Swedish).

Post: #8

As a man born and grown up in the North I have seen that many times.

Doesn't matter if you go to Finland,Sweden or Norway.

Keep in mind that Finland can be a good bet from an economical point this year since the Russian economy is going down and these places use to be filled by Russians.

Popular places in Finland without going too far out in the wilderness are Ski centers like Ylläs and Levi. There are flight to these places.

Rovaniemi is also a good place to catch it. The official city of the home of Santa Claus.
A lot of tourists from all over the world and many things. going on there. Straight train connections and flights from Helsinki.

Somebody mentioned Luleå. If you take a look on the Finnish side you will find Oulu.
Which is a pretty big town for Finnish standards and is also a big student city.
Train and flight connections aswell.

Bad Hussar, if you need more info about Northern Finland or Northern Sweden feel free to contact me. It's kind of my neighbourhood.

Post: #9

This is on my bucket list

Thanks for starting the thread Bad Hussar

Post: #10

Same can be done in Canada...I've seen them from the north of Quebec

Post: #11

Don't go to Luleå, the chance to see the northern light there is smaller than in Kiruna.
There is decent night trains going, check sj.se, however the flights are cheap from time to time too, norwegian is usually cheapest. Flight is better as the train takes around 16 hours. The Swedish currency have been falling for a while now because of unstable government.

What to do in a Swedish small city in winter time? It's usually pretty dead in the streets after 4pm. I would play tinder, skout and badoo looking for girls.

Post: #12

Agreed with the above. Even though seeing the aurora is definitely on my bucket list. Kiruna looks like your best bet. I have friend that's planning to go there soon and he is going to Kiruna.

Post: #13

Quote:4) What do you do in a small Swedish town in mid-Winter for one week while waiting for something to happen. Apparently it is dark almost all day in January.

Post: #14

^^^^

Failing that, have you considered to rent a snowmobile?

Post: #15

Thanks for all the suggestions and info.

Skiing, or in my case snowboarding, is actually not a bad idea. Something to do when not looking up at the sky. The resorts are quite small, but so what.

I am leaning towards either one of the Lapland ski resorts, or a place actually in/very near Abisko National Park rather than the town of Kiruna itself.

Outside chance of choosing Narvik, Norway. Seems more interesting than Kiruna, but Norway's reputation as one of the most expensive places on earth gives me pause. Has anyone been to the ski resort in/near Narvik? The terrain looks more interesting than the Finnish resorts, but the opening hours are very weird. Only open a few hours a day despite having lights.

Chaos: Thanks for the offer. I will definitely contact you by PM later in the year if that's OK. Probably looking at going to Sweden, rather than Finland, and in Feb when there is more daylight, but who knows. Are there any other (downhill) ski places you'd recommend in the North?

For others interested here's a motivational video from a Finnish tourism agency. They use time lapse techniques, but the video doesn't seem completely overdone.

Post: #16

If theres any interest for someone coming to Northern Sweden I'll be glad to help out as I live here.

Living in Luleå there is too much light from the city to get a good look a the northern light but I have a place an hour by car that will give you a good shoot at seeing it.

Kiruna is a mining town and most girls move to Luleå where I live so my advice is to Fly to from Stockholm to Luleå (One hour flight) Then stay and party/tinder here - Go to a skiing resort (pretty cheap, still Swe prices) and see it from there, maybe two hours by car.

Train in wintertime is delayed alot, do not recommend

Post: #17

Northern Lights are inconsistent, overrated, and look better in pictures than in real life. I wouldn't take a five minute reindeer ride to watch them, much less travel the world, but whatever floats your boat.

Post: #18

I sort of agree, Growing up around it im kind of used to it but I still think there might be interest in it for some and if I can provide information thats great