Kiruna Travel Forum

Hello to all
we are thinking about visiting lapland over the christmas period and would appreciate any sort of information as we dont have a real idea as to where the nicest area to stay would be. Any favourites? We were thinking about 10 days with our main aim to see the northern lights and a little bit of skiing. Where could we find some nice cabins not too far out of town where we could even have the option of spending our days relaxing. Where are the best skiing areas and is it advisable to bring your own gear or easier to rent something there
Thanks

Well...no light above the HORIZON that is. That doesn't mean total darkness! In fact, the light during Arctic winter as mid December to January is called, is amongst the most spectacular I have ever seen with tones of orange, turqoise and pink. Check my Jukkasjärvi page to see what I mean.

And who says there's no skiing? ;) I would strongly recommend a stay at Abisko Fell station in the National Park. Since last year they have opened up for Christmas and New Year to get some company themselves in between the proper skiing season and the summer trekking season. We were there for New Year and it was magic. You cannot do much with the short days but a trip up Mount Nuolja (when winds allow it) and/or a ski or snow-shoe trip is perfectly possible. The ski rental was open and there were free toboggan loan for the children. The restaurant serves Swedish lunches and dinners (included unless you rent a cabin in their yard) and has a special fancy dinner for Christmas Eve/New Years Eve. It is one of the best places in the Nordic countries for northern lights since the mountains often block the snow from Norway so the skies are unusually clear. They also arrange tours to a Sami camp and if weather allows, an expensive tour to see killer whales in Norway. The fell station has its own little railway station so it is easy to reach from Stockholm by night train.

I recommend that if you do this, you allow for a day in Kiruna to visit the fantastic Ice Hotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi even if you don't splash out to sleep there. It's a great little village too.

www.abisko.nu

thanks both of you for your help.Any other information would be appreciated. we seem to have come to this decision. We are going to get the train from helsinki to Kittilla so we can stay at Yllas. we then need to find a way to get to Kiruna. Are there buses or can we hire a car. Which is the best option. We would like to blow the budget a little and spend one night at the ice hotel and then a couple of nights at abisko

Yes, the times can be checked at:

http://www.resplus.se

Hi!
Kiruna is great at that time of the year. U can spend New Years at the Ice Hotel, it's one of the best parties ever! The ice hotel has these great cabins all in wood with a window on the top so U can see the nothern lights. U won't sleep in the ice hotel because it's so cold, but U can visit it any time and have a vodka at the ice bar straight from a ice glass! They also have great things to do during the day - going on skimotos to see the nothern lights at nights, travels to the mountains, etc.
I stayed at Kiruna Hotel, it's cheaper than the ice hotel and then rented a car to go around.
Did no skiing.
The days are very short and so white. It's amazing! Never saw anything so beatiful!
Have fun!