View the Northern Lights from an Ice Hut in Sweden

  • September 25, 2015
View the Northern Lights from an Ice Hut in Sweden
With the new program, guests get a true Arctic experience staying in insulated ice fishing huts set on the banks of a frozen lake.

Set among the mountains surrounding the world-famous Northern Lights region of Björkliden and Abisko in northern Sweden, The Aurora Village is a collection of three traditional Swedish ice-fishing huts placed on the banks of frozen Lake Badsjön. The cozy huts, traditionally used by ice fisherman in the region during the winter, have uninterrupted views of the “greatest light show on earth.”

Jonny Cooper, director of Off the Map Travel and Northern Lights expert explains, “Because the huts are isolated from any light pollution on the frozen lake, you get perfect conditions to experience the Aurora Borealis. Although you feel like you are deep in the Arctic Circle, the Aurora Village is easily reached with a guide by snowmobile or snowshoe from your base in Björkliden. It’s a great adventure for all ages and abilities, and you get a taste of what it’s like to experience life in the Arctic.”

After the evening’s adventure on the ice at the Aurora Village – tasting local delicacies, watching the Northern Lights and sleeping in an ice hut -- a guide returns in the morning with a hot breakfast.

Available from December 2015, once the lake has fully frozen over, the chance to stay at the Aurora Village has already attracted a lot of interest from those looking for a Northern Lights vacation. Cooper adds, “The beauty of the new Aurora Village is that the traditional ice-fishing huts are semi-mobile, so they can be taken to the best possible spots to experience the Northern lights. The lake setting gives you the perfect combination of adventure in the Arctic mountains, dark skies, and uninterrupted views with spectacular Aurora Borealis spotting conditions.”

A four-night trip to Björkliden and Abisko in northern Sweden is priced starting at £1,399 ($2150 USD at time of this writing) per person including all meals, accommodation for three nights in a four-star hotel and one night in the Aurora Village in an ice hut, a “Lights over Lapland” photography trip, dogsledding, and snowmobiling for two adults. Flights are not included. For more information, visit www.ILoveNorthernLights.com.