Lapland & the mountains · Norrbotten County
Photoshoot in Abisko
A photoshoot in Abisko is a session with an independent photographer or videographer in and around the village on Torneträsk in Swedish Lapland, by the lake, in the canyon or under a possible aurora, booked through a free availability request, from 4,990 kr.
Pricing
From 4,990 kr
- Region
- Lapland & the mountains
- Photo spots
- 5
Prices shown are starting prices. Your final price depends on location, duration, date, coverage and photographer availability.
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Photoshoot in Abisko starts from 4,990 kr. The final price depends on the place, duration, date, time of day, travel and any add-ons such as film or drone, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
- When is the best time?
- Aurora can appear any time after dark and is often strongest in the hours around midnight, but it keeps no schedule.
- Which services are available here?
- Proposal Photography, Couple Photoshoot, Proposal Photo + Film, Wedding Photography, and Family Photoshoot
- Getting there
- Abisko has two stations, Abisko Östra and Abisko Turiststation, on the Iron Ore Line between Kiruna and Narvik.
- Where does it take place?
- Popular places include Torneträsk shore; Abiskojåkka canyon; Nuolja and the Aurora Sky Station; Lapporten (Čuonjávággi). Your photographer suggests the best spot for your date, the light and the crowds.
- How does booking work?
- Send a free request with your place, date and plans. Nordiora checks which professionals are available and replies with a proposal stating who will shoot, the package and the exact price. Nothing is booked until you accept.
Abisko is a very small place with a very large reputation. It lies on the south shore of Torneträsk, around 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and close to the Norwegian border, where the mountains to the west take much of the moisture out of the Atlantic weather. That rain shadow makes it one of the drier parts of Sweden, and it is the reason Abisko is talked about for northern lights. Drier does not mean clear every night, and this page will not pretend otherwise.
There are two parts to the village. Abisko Östra has the shop and most of the houses, and the STF Abisko Turiststation, about two kilometres west, has the national park entrance, the northern end of the Kungsleden trail and the chairlift nearby. Each has its own railway station, so your choice of room decides how far you walk in the dark.
We arrange couple sessions, proposals and northern lights portraits here, with independent professionals we review for night and winter work, from 4,990 kr. For the wider region, including how Abisko relates to Jokkmokk or the coast, read our guide to Swedish Lapland. Kiruna is the nearest airport and town.
Photo spots — Abisko
- 01
Torneträsk shore
Torneträsk is about 70 kilometres long and the second-deepest lake in Sweden, at 168 metres. From Abisko the shore faces north across open water or ice, which is the direction a quieter aurora tends to appear. It is usually ice-covered from around December until June, and in autumn it is open water that can carry a reflection.
- Best time
- Clear nights from about September to March; around midnight in June and early July.
- Access
- A short walk from either station. Stay near the shore: ice conditions vary, and you should only go out with someone who knows it.
- 02
Abiskojåkka canyon
The Abiskojåkka river has cut a narrow canyon through layered rock right beside the station area. Water runs turquoise in summer and ice builds along the walls in winter. It is close, sheltered and works in flat light, so it is the natural daytime location when the sky is grey.
- Best time
- Daylight in summer; around midday in winter, when the snow reflects what light there is.
- Access
- A short walk under the railway and the E10 from STF Abisko Turiststation. Railings and paths can be icy, so wear traction.
- 03
Nuolja and the Aurora Sky Station
The Nuolja (Njulla) chairlift climbs from near the station to the STF Aurora Sky Station at about 900 metres, with views over Torneträsk and towards Lapporten. In the 2026–27 season STF lists guided night visits from 19 October to 27 March, and a summer lift from mid-June to late September, with evening rides from mid-June to mid-July.
- Best time
- Evening rides around midsummer; late afternoon in February and March.
- Access
- A walk from the tourist station, with tickets through STF. Night visits are guided and weather can stop the lift, so a private shoot up there needs arranging with STF first.
- 04
Lapporten (Čuonjávággi)
Lapporten is the U-shaped valley between two peaks, south-east of the village and just outside the national park. Its Sámi name means Goose Valley. You see it from the shore near Abisko, from the train arriving from Kiruna and from Nuolja. Because it lies to the south-east while a quiet aurora sits to the north, the two only share a frame on a stronger night, when the aurora moves overhead.
- Best time
- Clear afternoons in late winter; any clear night with aurora overhead.
- Access
- Seen from the shore and road near Abisko Östra. Walking into the valley itself is a full day and a mountain trip.
- 05
Kungsleden and the birch forest
Kungsleden starts here and runs about 450 kilometres south to Hemavan. The first stretch follows the river through mountain birch, past an old marble quarry about two kilometres in. In winter the low birches hold snow and give a soft, private frame close to the buildings.
- Best time
- Late afternoon in February and March; first week of September for autumn colour.
- Access
- From the tourist station on a marked trail. Snowshoes may be needed after fresh snow.
Best time
Seasons
From about late August to early April the sky is dark enough for aurora. September and October have open water for reflections and milder nights; early September adds ruska, the autumn colour in the birches. Around the turn of the year the sun stays below the horizon for about a month at this latitude, from roughly the first week of December to early January, and daylight is a few hours of blue twilight. February and March bring deep snow and returning light. From about 25 May to mid-July the midnight sun means no aurora at all. Geomagnetic activity tends to be slightly higher around the equinoxes, which adds a small argument for September and March.
Time of day
Aurora can appear any time after dark and is often strongest in the hours around midnight, but it keeps no schedule. Plan a window of several hours and watch both the aurora forecast and cloud. In midwinter, the useful daylight is around midday; by March you have long afternoons. Around midsummer the low sun stands in the north at midnight, directly over the lake from this shore.
Weather
Winter is cold and often windy on the lake, and temperatures below −20 °C are possible in a cold snap. The wind off Torneträsk matters more than the thermometer when you are standing still. The rain shadow helps, but cloud still arrives, and it can sit over the lake while the sky opens a few kilometres away, so a photographer watches satellite images and is ready to move. Summer is mild and changeable, and the forest has mosquitoes in July.
Getting there
Abisko has two stations, Abisko Östra and Abisko Turiststation, on the Iron Ore Line between Kiruna and Narvik. Kiruna is about an hour and a half away by train or on the E10, roughly 100 kilometres. A night train runs from Stockholm in around 17 to 18 hours; SJ takes over the state contract from December 2026 with a through service to Narvik, so confirm that your train stops at the station you need at sj.se. Bus 91 runs between Kiruna and Riksgränsen in some seasons: check Länstrafiken Norrbotten.
Good to know
Abisko National Park was established in 1909 and is managed by Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten. Its regulations (SNFS 1987:7, as amended) prohibit landing aircraft. They do not name drones, and we do not arrange drone flights in the park; ask the county administrative board before assuming anything. The regulations also ban fires and tents outside designated places, putting up signs, and motor vehicles off designated routes, and they require a permit for organised activities more than three times a year or with more than 35 people. Your photographer checks whether a permit applies. Reindeer herding continues here through Rautasvuoma sameby: give animals space. Sessions start from 4,990 kr; see pricing.
- Stay three or four nights, not one, if aurora is the point of the trip.
- Pick a room within walking distance of the shore or chairlift; nights are long and cold.
- Bring ice grips for your boots; the short walks are the icy ones.
- Book the Aurora Sky Station early, and read STF’s rules on cancellation for bad weather.
- Leave banners, lanterns and petals at home: the park is not a place for props.
- Keep spare batteries in an inside pocket and let a camera warm slowly when you come in.
Related services
From 4,490 kr
Proposal Photography
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Couple Photoshoot
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Proposal Photo + Film
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Availability
We confirm availability for your date personally — send a request and we will check which reviewed professionals are free for this place and service.
Find a Photographer in AbiskoFrequently asked questions
Is Abisko really the best place in Sweden for northern lights?
It is one of the most favourable, not a sure thing. Abisko lies under the auroral oval and in the rain shadow of the mountains to the west, so it is often drier than its surroundings. Cloud still happens, so plan several nights and a daylight alternative.
Can we fly a drone in Abisko National Park?
Do not assume so; we do not arrange drone flights in the park. The park’s regulations prohibit landing aircraft and do not name drones. Ask Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten, which manages the park, for the current position.
Do we need a permit to be photographed in the park?
A private session on the marked paths is normally just a walk with a camera, but organised activities more than three times a year or with more than 35 participants need a permit from Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten. Your photographer checks whether this applies to their work before confirming.
How do we get to Abisko without a car?
Take the train: Abisko Östra and Abisko Turiststation are both on the line from Kiruna, about an hour and a half away, and the night train from Stockholm runs on the same route. Check that your train stops at the station nearest your room. Bus 91 from Kiruna runs in some seasons.
Can a photographer come with us up to the Aurora Sky Station?
Possibly, but it has to be cleared with STF first. Night visits are guided tickets and the lift can stop for weather, and STF does not refund for that. For a dependable private shoot, the lake shore and the birch forest are better first choices.
How much does a photographer in Abisko cost?
Sessions in Abisko start from 4,990 kr, VAT included, reflecting long travel, night work and cold. Proposal photo and film starts from 7,990 kr and wedding photography from 14,900 kr. Your proposal states the final price.
Planning guides
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