Science of astronomy and ice: Sweden

22 March 2025 - 4 days for £3,299 per person.

From striking alpine forests to picturesque snowcapped mountains, travelling to northern Sweden during the winter months offers a truly magical experience. Discover a place of awe-inspiring natural beauty where scientists from all over the world come to study climate change and conduct research in an Arctic environment. 

During this tour, spend time exploring Abisko National Park, an area preserved by scientists since the 1900s. Travel to the Aurora Sky Station, known as one of the best places to view the aurora borealis. Meet with experts at the station, who will teach you more about the phenomena of the northern lights. From here, stay at the unique Icehotel. Every year, when the river Torne freezes, blocks of ice are harvested to create this luxurious igloo hotel, which is the world’s largest hotel made of snow and ice. Stay in one of the hotel's unique "ice rooms", with temperatures of -5°C to -8°C.

Accompanied throughout by Jamie Carter, a freelance science and travel writer with 25 years experience writing about the night sky, eclipses and astronomy. He has written for over 50 publications, including Forbes, SPACE.com, Live Science and BBC Sky at Night magazine. He is the author of A Stargazing Program for Beginners.

This tour is perfect for those with a particular interest in astronomy and nature, or for anyone wanting a truly remote escape.

DAY 1: KIRUNA TO STF ABISKO TURISTATION

On arrival in Kiruna airport, you will be met and transferred to the STF Abisko Turistation, in Abisko National Park, which takes around 90 minutes. There will be time for you to settle into your accommodation before this evening’s welcome meeting and activities.

Situated 125 miles north of the Arctic circle on the shores of Lake Torneträsk, Abisko National Park was established in 1909 by a group of Swedish scientists who wanted to preserve the area in its original condition for research. The region has continued to be of key scientific interest and is home to the Abisko Scientific Research Station. The station is primarily used for biological, climate, ecological, environmental and geological research and contains on-site laboratories as well as smaller off-site field research facilities.

In the evening, there will be a welcome meeting with the group and your tour leader before dinner at the hotel.

After dinner, take a short walk to the base of the nearby mountain, where you’ll be kitted out in warm clothing before a 20-minute ride on a chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station.

This world-famous spot is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. It lies right at the centre of what is known as the "aurora oval", and is on Mount Nuolja, 900 metres above sea level, in an area with very few distracting sources of light or sound. During the winter months, with no light pollution and frequent cloudless skies, there is nothing to hinder auroral displays, and the peace and quiet of this area is the ideal atmosphere in which to look out for the northern lights.

Once at the station, you will learn more about the northern lights and hopefully spend time enjoying this amazing natural phenomenon before returning to your hotel.

DAY 2: TRAVEL TO THE ICEHOTEL

After breakfast, you will be transferred by road to the Icehotel, a journey of around 90 minutes through Sweden’s beautiful snowy wilderness.

The first and original Icehotel was built in Jukkasjarvi, Swedish Lapland in 1989 and took just two weeks to complete. It was made out of ice, snow and "snice" – which combines snow, water and air. This was made using snow cannons and has a higher density than snow itself, making it stronger and perfect for building purposes. In the snice, small ice crystals trap air between them. It is as white as snow and a good insulator because of the trapped air. Kept at a constant -5°C to -8°C, the interior actually feels quite pleasant, especially when outside temperatures can drop to around -37°C!

Enjoy a private tour of the Icehotel.

In the afternoon, there will be free time to try some of the activities available at the hotel, including husky-sledding, riding a snowmobile or perhaps a more relaxing ride on a sleigh pulled by reindeer through the beautiful countryside.

Tonight, spend a night sleeping on the ice in one of the Icehotels "cold rooms".

DAY 3: EXPLORE KIRUNA

Today, you will learn more about the mining town of Kiruna, which is having to be relocated due to the Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) mine. In 2004, it was decided that the town centre would have to move because of mining-related subsidence. The relocation is being done gradually, beginning in 2014 and due to end around 2040.

The LKAB mine is the world’s largest, most modern underground iron ore mine. Located in northern Sweden, it began operation more than 100 years ago. The mine is divided into eight production areas, each with its own group of tunnels and ventilation systems.

Return to the ice hotel in the late afternoon.

Tonight, you will sleep in one of the Icehotels "warm rooms".

DAY 4: KIRUNA DEPARTURE

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kiruna airport for your return flight home.