Kiruna Tours: Top 5 Sightseeing & Cruise Adventures
Kiruna, way up in northern Sweden, it’s almost like a special place brimming with awesome experiences just waiting for someone like you to find them. From the really amazing Northern Lights displays to adventures out in the wild and experiences tied to the local culture, Kiruna tends to be full of possibilities. Let’s take a peek at the top 5 sightseeing and cruise options that truly make a visit here really special.
1. Aurora Borealis Viewing Tour
Probably one of the greatest experiences someone could have in Kiruna is to chase the Northern Lights, is that right? What you will usually find is that there are numerous tour operators out there and they will try and take you away from town into areas with zero light pollution, which can certainly assist you with getting that amazing sight of the Aurora dancing across the night sky, arguably. Many of these tours, it seems like, also provide things like warm clothing, hot drinks, and sometimes even professional photography tips just in case you really are hoping to get the absolute best photos of this stunning event, wouldn’t you say? You, like, absolutely don’t want to miss out on an experience that many people label as life changing.
Stories abound of visitors completely stunned into silence at the sight of the Northern Lights, apparently a sky full of greens, purples, and reds. In a way, there are specialized guides too, like your northern lights hunters, and they typically utilize their years of experience, and very modern weather predictions, basically to bring you to areas where there’s a greater possibility of sightings of this pretty spectacular natural display; really a unique adventure, you might say.
You can find multiple options like your standard bus tour, the hiking version that takes you on a pretty active adventure away from civilisation, maybe a snowmobile tour which should be an thrilling way to hit a remote viewing spot or probably just an all in one package for several nights to greatly boost your probability of capturing that photograph of a lifetime, honestly a wide variety to consider that should at least somewhat increase the possibility of seeing the spectacular show Northern lights offer. Do you agree to consider these options before planning that visit?
2. Ice Hotel Visit
A must-see when in Kiruna is often said to be the Ice Hotel, wouldn’t you say? You see, it’s typically a hotel rebuilt each year completely out of snow and ice and it turns out it shows some outstanding works of ice art that seem very different yearly. During a tour, just think, you get to discover the ice suites, the ice bar, and even an ice church, clearly amazing, especially when one realizes everything melts each spring and that each year a brand new one is build from scratch.
Think about those extremely skilled ice artists coming from all over and contributing to the construction each year to design different rooms, each is, well it seems to be unique, honestly. A daytime visit, that’s fine and all, yet staying one night, actually that’s something you are unlikely to ever forget because it delivers something rather distinctive.
There are, apparently, some heated sections readily available, of course. One could also potentially choose to get their evening cocktails out of glasses made of ice, or probably attend a wedding in the ice church for a pretty out of this globe type celebration. To plan and perhaps reserve well in advance to guarantee your space and to make sure you see something almost unbelievable is something I recommend when heading this far north.
3. Sami Cultural Experience
To basically dig into the local Sami culture is another special thing to do near Kiruna, don’t you think? A number of excursions, it seems, provide a peek into the old traditions and way of life for the Sami people, basically. These local tours often come with reindeer feeding, sled rides, and listening to old-fashioned stories told around the blazing warmth of a fire.
Have you ever been near to a reindeer? I haven’t. Very often they are led by people that live locally, perhaps, providing one with an authentic look into their cultural customs. You could potentially sample conventional Sami dishes and perhaps discover their handcrafts that go back centuries.
In that case, it’s a possibility that you get to listen to a few of their conventional musical performances generally called “joiks,” these can be so meaningful, it appears, really. With the Sami’s strong connection with all of nature, just remember you will, also you could potentially glean a thing or two of the amazing sustainable way of living they follow, a lifestyle people are seemingly aiming for in present day society, anyway.
4. Dog Sledding Tour
Basically to experience dog sledding in Kiruna tends to be nothing less than super thrilling and it might be ideal if someone wants more exciting activities; am I right? Visualize being pulled across the beautiful white landscape behind a bunch of very delighted huskies – just imagine that – pretty exciting! You have many tour options out there where you can drive your own dog team with, you know, only the supervision and direction from very skilled mushers. You might be taught simple commands which in turn leads to feeling that sense of unity, not only with nature but the loyal huskies running you through Swedish wilderness. What a memorable bonding activity that is going to be, honestly.
Almost always they give different sledding trips: going for some short runs spanning a couple of hours or taking much longer treks lasting many days. Typically you are given all the required stuff which are warmer clothing, safety briefing not only for you but your canine partners. Dog sledding, anyway, happens to be very captivating while traveling the spectacular nature of Kiruna.
Do make it a point to book this in advance, perhaps more so within the tourist seasons considering these normally turn out very popular especially, that. You should know the relationship that humans and canines are building through centuries has been a close, symbiotic and beneficial partnership.
5. LKAB Iron Ore Mine Tour
For one tour that’s really different, how about checking out the LKAB iron ore mine? I would say it stands as just one of the biggest underground mines across the world, I imagine. You descend quite far underground for the directed visit and also get insight into the mining operations. I guess learning a bit of the way this mine affected not only the surrounding communities plus the Swedish economy definitely proves insightful – or something like that anyway.
What you might experience throughout that tour usually includes a movie telling its heritage, going deeply underground to see the methods of extraction used for the mineral deposits. From a specific standpoint this mine provided considerable support especially following the Second world war given Sweden’s economic rebuilding; actually so significant historically speaking that you should definitely check that attraction.
It may be a bit unique from some Northern lights, sledding experiences and even Sami encounters so plan accordingly, to avoid overlooking that particular spot. Tours have limitations for accessibility, but a quick booking and confirmation beforehand allows somebody get ready for a tour of what an actual operating iron ore mine does – you have already booked and planned right?