NORTHERN LIGHTS

WITH AWARD-WINNING ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER GÖRAN STRAND

NORTHERN LIGHTS

WITH AWARD-WINNING ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER GÖRAN STRAND

PLACE: Abisko, Sweden PHOTO: Astro LENGHT: 5 days DATE: February 11-15 2026 NO. OF PARTICIPANTS: 8-12

For world-class northern lights photography, there’s only one place: Abisko in the north of Sweden. In my opinion, it’s the best spot in the world for this. Take the chance and join me here this winter, and I’ll teach you all the tricks to become a great northern lights photographer.

Göran Strand

Capture the northern lights on camera – a world where silence reigns and the sky opens up in all its infinite vastness.

Above us, the seductive veils of the aurora dance in ever-shifting shapes and colors, while stars, planets, and distant galaxies shimmer against a velvet-dark sky. Below, mountain birches rise like silhouettes against the glowing phenomenon, nestled in a landscape of low-lying mountains, frozen lakes, and endless open spaces.

This is Abisko – one of the very best places on Earth to experience and photograph the northern lights. Many have seen pictures, but few have stood in the midst of this quiet storm of light and emotion, and even fewer have managed to capture it on camera with the presence it truly deserves.

Led by award-winning astrophotographer Göran Strand, you’ll have the chance to learn the secrets of photographing the night sky: how to best capture the movement of the aurora, the brilliance of the stars, and the contours of the landscape in darkness. With his expert guidance, you’ll master both technique and patience – and learn to see the invisible with new eyes.

We venture deep into the wilderness, far from any light pollution. Here, where the low Arctic vegetation meets the sky’s spectacular show, a scene unfolds that few places on Earth can match. It’s an experience that stays not only in your camera – but in your memory as well.

HIGHLIGHTS

Four evenings/nights of northern lights photography
Experience the stunning nature of Abisko
Aurora photography in the mountains, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes
Daytime photo hikes in the Arctic wilderness
Participation and guidance by renowned astrophotographer Göran Strand
Image editing sessions and photo critique with Göran Strand
Lectures and personal coaching from Göran Strand

BOKNING

PLACE: Abisko, Sweden PHOTO: Astro LENGHT: 5 days DATE: February 11-15 2026 NO. OF PARTICIPANTS: 8-12

For world-class northern lights photography, there’s only one place: Abisko in the north of Sweden. In my opinion, it’s the best spot in the world for this. Take the chance and join me here this winter, and I’ll teach you all the tricks to become a great northern lights photographer.

Göran Strand

Capture the northern lights on camera – a world where silence reigns and the sky opens up in all its infinite vastness.

Above us, the seductive veils of the aurora dance in ever-shifting shapes and colors, while stars, planets, and distant galaxies shimmer against a velvet-dark sky. Below, mountain birches rise like silhouettes against the glowing phenomenon, nestled in a landscape of low-lying mountains, frozen lakes, and endless open spaces.

This is Abisko – one of the very best places on Earth to experience and photograph the northern lights. Many have seen pictures, but few have stood in the midst of this quiet storm of light and emotion, and even fewer have managed to capture it on camera with the presence it truly deserves.

Led by award-winning astrophotographer Göran Strand, you’ll have the chance to learn the secrets of photographing the night sky: how to best capture the movement of the aurora, the brilliance of the stars, and the contours of the landscape in darkness. With his expert guidance, you’ll master both technique and patience – and learn to see the invisible with new eyes.

We venture deep into the wilderness, far from any light pollution. Here, where the low Arctic vegetation meets the sky’s spectacular show, a scene unfolds that few places on Earth can match. It’s an experience that stays not only in your camera – but in your memory as well.

HIGHLIGHTS

Four evenings/nights of northern lights photography
Experience the stunning nature of Abisko
Aurora photography in the mountains, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes
Daytime photo hikes in the Arctic wilderness
Participation and guidance by renowned astrophotographer Göran Strand
Image editing sessions and photo critique with Göran Strand
Lectures and personal coaching from Göran Strand

BOKNING

ABISKO

Abisko is one of the few places on Earth where you’re highly likely to come face-to-face with the dance of the northern lights.
Lonely Planet has ranked Abisko as the best place in the world to experience the aurora – and that’s no coincidence. The dry climate, clear air, and protected location between mountain ranges often keep the clouds away, allowing the sky to open up.

Abisko lies right beneath the auroral oval – the area around the Earth’s magnetic pole where auroras most frequently appear. Statistics show that the northern lights are visible here on more than 70% of winter nights. That means your chances of witnessing this mysterious, electric light show are unusually high.

But the aurora follows no rules. It’s wild, alive, and unpredictable. There are no guarantees. But so far every single one of our guests who has joined us in Abisko has seen and photographed the northern lights.

Read more about Abisko, one of the few places on Earth where you’re highly likely to come face-to-face with northern lights.

ITINERARY

FEBRUARY 11-15 2026

DAY 1 (Feb 11) – WELCOME TO ABISKO
Arrival and check-in at STF’s facility in Abisko during the afternoon. Here, you’ll be greeted by Göran, along with a travel host from Zoom Photo Tours who will accompany the group throughout the trip.

During the course, Göran will share insights into his work with astrophotography and northern lights photography. He will also cover image composition, lighting, camera techniques, and more. Naturally, we will also work on image editing, and Göran will provide individual image critique and feedback.

During dinner, you’ll receive an overview of the days ahead, along with useful tips and advice on how to photograph the aurora.
After dinner, we head out into the wilderness for our first northern lights photo session. Expect to return to the hotel after midnight. (D)

DAYS 2–4 (Feb 12–14) – ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
In the mornings, you’ll have time to review and go through your photos from the previous night. After lunch at the hotel, we gather for a group image review session led by Göran, who will offer personalized tips to help you improve your shots for the coming evening.

Göran will also demonstrate how to easily create your own stop-motion aurora film in real time, using your still images.

If weather conditions allow, we may also do some daytime photography in the scenic surroundings.

After dinner at the hotel, we’ll head out to one of Abisko’s beautiful locations for another night of northern lights and landscape photography. Our chosen spot will depend on the weather. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 (Feb 15) – DEPARTURE
Breakfast is served at the hotel. Depending on your departure time for the train from Abisko or your transfer to Kiruna Airport, we may have time for a final image review session in the morning. (B)

AFTER THE TRIP
Once you’re back home, you’ll have a couple of weeks to go through your photos. When ready, select your two best images and email them to Göran for feedback and critique. As part of this, Göran will also choose the best photo from the course, which will advance to the final round of the “Image of the Year 2026” competition, with a chance to win the grand prize of USD 500.

The itinerary for the five days in Abisko.

11-15/2 2026

DAG 1 (11/2) – VÄLKOMMEN TILL FJÄLLEN
Samling på STFs anläggning i Abisko under eftermiddagen. Här möts du av Göran samt en resevärd från Zoom Fotoresor som kommer att vara med under dagarna i Abisko. Under kursen kommer Göran både att berätta om hur han jobbar med astro och norrskensfoto samt att även om bildkomposition, ljuset i bilderna, teknik med mera. Självklart kommer vi även att jobba med bildredigering samt Göran kommer att ge bildkritik på dina bilder.

I samband med middagen kommer du att få information om dagarna tillsammans samt även tips och råd kring norrskensfotografering. Efter middagen beger vi oss ut i vildmarken för vårt första fotopass med norrskensfotografering. Du får räkan med att vi inte är tillbaka på hotellet förrän efter midnatt. (M)

FEBRUARY 11-15 2026

DAY 1 (Feb 11) – WELCOME TO ABISKO
Arrival and check-in at STF’s facility in Abisko during the afternoon. Here, you’ll be greeted by Göran, along with a travel host from Zoom Photo Tours who will accompany the group throughout the trip.

During the course, Göran will share insights into his work with astrophotography and northern lights photography. He will also cover image composition, lighting, camera techniques, and more. Naturally, we will also work on image editing, and Göran will provide individual image critique and feedback.

During dinner, you’ll receive an overview of the days ahead, along with useful tips and advice on how to photograph the aurora.
After dinner, we head out into the wilderness for our first northern lights photo session. Expect to return to the hotel after midnight. (D)

DAYS 2–4 (Feb 12–14) – ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
In the mornings, you’ll have time to review and go through your photos from the previous night. After lunch at the hotel, we gather for a group image review session led by Göran, who will offer personalized tips to help you improve your shots for the coming evening.

Göran will also demonstrate how to easily create your own stop-motion aurora film in real time, using your still images.

If weather conditions allow, we may also do some daytime photography in the scenic surroundings.

After dinner at the hotel, we’ll head out to one of Abisko’s beautiful locations for another night of northern lights and landscape photography. Our chosen spot will depend on the weather. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 (Feb 15) – DEPARTURE
Breakfast is served at the hotel. Depending on your departure time for the train from Abisko or your transfer to Kiruna Airport, we may have time for a final image review session in the morning. (B)

AFTER THE TRIP
Once you’re back home, you’ll have a couple of weeks to go through your photos. When ready, select your two best images and email them to Göran for feedback and critique. As part of this, Göran will also choose the best photo from the course, which will advance to the final round of the “Image of the Year 2026” competition, with a chance to win the grand prize of USD 500.

PHOTOGRAPHER

GÖRAN STRAND • Astrophotographer

Göran Strand is Sweden’s most award-winning astrophotographer and has been named Sweden’s Astrophotographer of the Year on multiple occasions. Göran has a deep passion for light, atmospheric phenomena, and almost everything that happens in the sky — both day and night. Over the past few years, he has gained significant recognition for his photographs and film sequences capturing various celestial events.

Göran has contributed both photographic and film material to Swedish and international film productions. Several of his images have been selected by NASA as “Astronomy Picture of the Day”.
He has also published two books, and five of his northern lights photographs have been issued as official stamps by PostNord.

Web page

Instagram

Göran Strand is Sweden’s most award-winning astrophotographer.

GÖRAN STRAND • Astrophotographer

Göran Strand is Sweden’s most award-winning astrophotographer and has been named Sweden’s Astrophotographer of the Year on multiple occasions. Göran has a deep passion for light, atmospheric phenomena, and almost everything that happens in the sky — both day and night. Over the past few years, he has gained significant recognition for his photographs and film sequences capturing various celestial events.

Göran has contributed both photographic and film material to Swedish and international film productions. Several of his images have been selected by NASA as “Astronomy Picture of the Day”.
He has also published two books, and five of his northern lights photographs have been issued as official stamps by PostNord.

Web page

Instagram

HOTEL

STF ABISKO***+

PRICE, FACTS & BOOKING

PRICE

Price per person: USD 2 100

The price includes:

Local transfers during the workshop
Accommodation in a shared double room with shower and toilet
Meals according to the program (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Full participation of Göran Strand throughout the workshop
Aurora photography workshop led by Göran Strand
Support from a travel host from Zoom Fotoresor
Hot beverages during photo excursions
VAT

The price does not include:

Single room supplement: USD 520
Travel to/from Abisko
Personal expenses such as drinks with meals, etc.
Cancellation protection and travel insurance (for more information, see “Other” section below)

TRANSPORT

Travel to Abisko is arranged independently. Since many prefer to book their own travel, we have chosen not to include transportation in the package price.

Please make sure not to arrive in Abisko later than 16:00 on February 11, and do not plan to leave earlier than around 13:00 on February 15.

There are several travel options, either with flight to Kiruna, followed by a bus or taxi to Abisko or by direct train from Stockholm to Abisko.

If you’d like assistance booking flights, we are happy to help. Feel free to call us at +46 (0)470-466 40, or mention this in your booking form when reserving your spot on the workshop.

FACTS

Target group: Photography enthusiasts aged 16 and up with some prior experience, looking to learn more about astrophotography and northern lights photography
Group size: Minimum 8 / Maximum 12 participants
Other: For more information about Zoom Fotoresor and our booking terms, please see the “Other” section on our website