How to capture the elusive Northern Lights

Every winter, visitors travel to northern Sweden in the hope of witnessing one of nature’s most captivating phenomena: the aurora borealis. Shades of green, red and purple swirl across the night sky from September to late March, with sightings sometimes continuing into early April. On rare occasions, the Northern Lights are so strong that they produce a faint crackling sound.

The Northern Lights are as unpredictable as they are beautiful, and knowing when and where to go is key. Your chances increase significantly with an expert guide familiar with local conditions. So head for the Arctic, check the weather forecast and join a tour that matches your sense of adventure.

Here are five Northern Lights tours designed for food lovers, animal enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.

5 extraordinary Northern Lights tours

Dog sled tour

Stell dir vor, du gleitest in einem von Huskies gezogenen Schlitten durch eine tiefverschneite Winterlandschaft, während über dir die Polarlichter tanzen – zwei magische Momente auf einmal. Kiruna Husky bietet Nordlicht-Touren an, bei denen du lernst, wie man die Hunde anschirrt und führt, bevor es gemeinsam mit einem Guide hinein in die arktische Nacht geht. Nach der Fahrt wärmst du dich an einem offenen Feuer in einem traditionellen nordschwedischen Tipi (Kåta) auf und genießt eine klassische schwedische Fika.Imagine gliding through a winter wonderland in a sled pulled by huskies, with the Northern Lights dancing overhead – two magical moments in one. Kiruna Husky offers Northern Lights tours where you’ll learn how to harness and handle the dogs before heading out into the Arctic night with a guide. After the ride, you’ll warm up around an open fire in a Nordic tipi and enjoy a traditional Swedish fika.

Photo tour

The elusive aurora borealis can be difficult to spot, and even more challenging to photograph. A photo tour with Lights of Lapland can help you capture it for real. With professional photographers as guides and preset cameras ready, the tour takes you into Abisko National Park. Warm overalls, hot drinks and all camera gear are included in their Ultimate Aurora Photo Adventure, which suits photography enthusiasts of all levels. A picture of your own Northern Lights experience is a souvenir to be proud of.

Horseback tour

Take your Northern Lights chase to the next level – on horseback. Ride an Icelandic horse through snow-covered forests near Sweden’s highest mountain range. The Icehotel’s Northern Lights horseback tour lets you experience the Arctic landscape at a slower pace. Before setting out, you'll help prepare your horse and enjoy a quiet moment in the stable. The tour ends with a locally sourced dinner, served in a traditional Sámi hut.

Snowmobile tour

For those craving speed and scenery, chasing the Northern Lights by snowmobile is a thrilling choice. On Kiruna Sleddog Tours’ adventurous Aurora Tour Snowmobiles, you’ll explore the Arctic landscape by snowmobile, with guides providing instructions before setting off. Beginners can drive too, or you can ride as a passenger and keep your eyes on the sky. A stop at a Sámi tent includes an open fire, homemade fika, and, if you’re lucky, a view of the sky’s glowing green streaks.

Local food tour

Join Stejk Street Food on a small-group Northern Lights tour from Kiruna, combining an aurora chase with dinner in a heated lavvu. Your local guide will choose the route based on the evening’s weather, cloud cover and aurora activity, taking you in search of the clearest skies. After dinner, the chase continues, with stops along the way when conditions look promising. Round off the evening with a Swedish fika while keeping an eye on the sky.

How to photograph the Northern Lights

So, you’ve found your spot, checked the weather and dressed warmly. But how do you actually capture the Northern Lights? Photographing auroras can be tricky. It’s dark, often freezing, and the lights can appear and vanish without warning. Here are a few practical tips to help you increase your chances of getting that perfect shot.

Wear two pairs of gloves

Use a thick pair to keep your hands warm and a thinner pair underneath that allows you to handle your camera or phone without removing them.

Use a tripod

Shooting the Northern Lights often requires a long shutter speed, so keeping your camera steady is essential. A tripod is ideal, but a rock or car roof can also work in a pinch.

Set a timer or use a remote

Even the lightest touch can blur a long-exposure shot. Use your camera’s timer or a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.

Avoid condensation

Moving your gear between warm indoor air and the cold outdoors can cause condensation on the lens. Place your camera in a waterproof bag inside your camera bag while transitioning. If you’re only stepping indoors briefly, keep the camera bag closed so your gear doesn’t have time to warm up.

Bring a spare battery

Cold weather drains batteries quickly. Carry a fully charged spare and keep it close to your body to keep it warm.

Camera settings

The best camera settings depend on your equipment, location and the conditions on the night, but these general guidelines are a good place to start. Shoot in RAW format if possible to give you more flexibility when editing.

• ISO: Start at ISO 800. If it’s very dark, increase to 1600 or even 3200.
• Shutter speed: Start at around 5–15 seconds. Use a shorter exposure for bright, fast-moving auroras and a longer one if the lights are faint and moving slowly.
• Aperture: Use the lowest f-number your lens allows – ideally f/2.8 or lower.
• Focus: Switch to manual focus. Try focusing on a distant star or the moon, or set the focus to infinity.

If you’re unsure, many guided Northern Lights tours are led by photographers who can help you find the right settings on the night. For time-lapse photography, set your white balance manually to keep the tone consistent across your images.

Photographing the Northern Lights with a smartphone

Many modern smartphones can capture the Northern Lights, especially when the aurora is bright and the sky is clear. Keeping your phone steady is key.

• Use night mode: If your phone has a night mode, switch it on to capture more light.
• Keep your phone steady: Use a tripod or prop your phone against a stable surface. A timer or remote shutter can also help avoid camera shake.
• Turn off the flash: It won’t help you capture the aurora and can unnecessarily light the foreground.
• Try manual settings: If your camera app offers manual or Pro controls, experiment with exposure time and ISO. Start with a few seconds’ exposure and adjust according to how bright and fast-moving the aurora is.
• Check the focus: Tap on the sky or a distant light to help your camera focus. If your phone offers manual focus, set it towards infinity.
• Shoot in RAW if available: This gives you more flexibility when editing your photos.
• Carry a power bank: Cold temperatures drain phone batteries quickly, so bring a fully charged power bank.

Good luck!