There has been a lot happening behind the scenes at Lights Over Lapland recently.
In just the last three weeks, a record breaking 10 (!!) Private Aurora Escapes have been booked for the upcoming season. And while there is still time before autumn and winter arrives, we’re already starting to see booking pressure build around some of our most popular dates.
It seems that more and more travellers are looking for something a little different from a traditional group holiday. A little more space. A little more flexibility. And, of course, a lot more time under the Abisko sky.
What makes the Private Aurora Escape so special?
Our Private Aurora Escape was designed for guests who want to experience Abisko on their own terms.
Instead of joining a larger group, your adventure is built entirely around you and the people you choose to travel with. You’ll have your own private accommodation, your own professional guide and a flexible itinerary designed around giving your group the best possible Arctic experience. And when night falls, the focus shifts to the Northern Lights.
Every evening, your guide looks at the weather, cloud forecasts, solar activity and local conditions before deciding where to go. If the best skies are beside Lake Torneträsk, that’s where you’ll head. If conditions look better somewhere else, your plans can change accordingly. The goal is simple: go where the conditions look best.
And because your adventure is private, the experience can move at your pace too.
Want to spend longer photographing the aurora? No problem.
Want to focus more on landscapes, wildlife or other daytime adventures? We can build that into your stay.
Want an evening that feels more like an Arctic adventure with friends than a scheduled tour? That’s exactly what the Private Aurora Escape is all about.
A few changes at our homes in Abisko
We’ve also been busy making improvements to the accommodation included in our Private Aurora Escapes.
Our Lovely House has recently undergone a huge bathroom renovation and other updates, making it an even more comfortable place to return to after a night spent chasing the Northern Lights. With plenty of space for families and groups, it remains one of our favourite options for guests who want to enjoy a more private home-away-from-home experience in Abisko.
We’ve also added more available dates at the Panorama House with one of the best views in Abisko.
This has given us a little more flexibility for the upcoming season, but based on the number of Private Aurora Escapes already booked, we don’t expect those dates to stay open forever either.
If you’ve been thinking about bringing your family, partner or group of friends to Abisko for a private Arctic adventure, this might be a good time to start looking at dates.
But wait… isn’t the peak of Solar Maximum over?
Yes, we’ve now moved beyond the peak of the current Solar Maximum. But before anyone starts worrying that the Northern Lights are about to disappear, let’s talk about it!
Solar activity doesn’t suddenly switch off when we pass the peak.
The solar cycle follows a gradual rise and fall, and we’re still very close to the most active period of the cycle. The Sun remains highly active, and we are continuing to see large sunspots, solar flares and other activity capable of producing impressive auroral displays.
In fact, if you think about the shape of the solar cycle, the years immediately before and after the peak are still incredibly exciting.
Some of our most memorable aurora seasons haven’t depended on a single record-breaking solar storm. A beautiful, active display beneath a perfectly clear Arctic sky can be just as unforgettable. And that’s where Abisko comes in.
Great solar activity is even better with clear skies
You can have all the solar activity in the world, but if the sky is covered in thick clouds, you’re not going to see much.
Abisko’s unique microclimate is one of the reasons the area has become so well known among aurora hunters and photographers. The mountains surrounding the national park, combined with the influence of Lake Torneträsk, help create clearer conditions here than in any other part of the world inside the aurora zone. Of course, no destination can guarantee clear skies or Northern Lights every night but staying in Abisko will give you the best possible chance.
The season is still a little way off… but the best dates are starting to go
We completely understand that planning an Arctic holiday takes time.
Flights need to be booked. Friends and family need to agree on dates. And deciding whether you’re really ready to spend four nights in Arctic temperatures can take some convincing!
That said, this year we’re seeing more people than ever getting their plans in place early. In fact, this month has been our busiest August for bookings ever! From our Autumn Anytime Aurora Adventure and Anytime Aurora Adventure to the Customisable Aurora Holiday, Christmas and New Year in Lapland packages, as well as individual tours, bookings have been coming in across the board.
And with 10 Private Aurora Escapes already booked in record time, we’re beginning to see availability tighten around some parts of the season.
Your private Arctic adventure is waiting
Every group has their own reason for coming to Abisko. Some are planning a special trip with family, others are travelling with friends, and some simply want the freedom to spend their time in the Arctic their own way. That’s exactly what the Private Aurora Escape is designed for.
And with the Sun still keeping things interesting, the nights getting darker and the upcoming season already starting to fill up, we have a feeling there are going to be plenty of exciting evenings ahead.
If you’ve been thinking about making Abisko your Arctic home for a few nights, now might be the perfect time to start planning.
Because the Northern Lights aren’t going anywhere.
But your preferred dates might.
