Most people arrive in Abisko with one thing on their minds: the sky. We understand that. But our evening hike is a chance to experience Abisko at a slower pace, walking through the Arctic landscape with our huskies, with time to enjoy the mountains, the dogs and, if we’re lucky, the Northern Lights.
You don’t ride behind the dogs. You walk beside them, through birch forest and open ground, and stop when the group wants to stop. The evening ends back where it began, usually a little colder and a lot quieter than when you set out.
Here’s what an evening with us looks like, from our side of the leash.
An Evening With the Huskies Under the Arctic Sky
Abisko Hikes is Anna and Fredrik, two local guides with a pack of Alaskan huskies. On their Northern Lights Huskie Hike you walk beside the dogs through birch forest and open ground, stop at a fire in the lávvu and head back in the dark, with the aurora as a hoped-for bonus rather than a promise.
Good to know
Duration: 3 to 4 hours in the evening
Season: Early October to late March
Price: From 1,390 SEK per person, checked October 2026
Included: Winter overalls, insulated boots, mittens and headlamps
Meeting point: Reception at Abisko.net
Keep in mind: You walk a few kilometers on uneven or snowy ground, and the Northern Lights are never guaranteed
Meeting Our Four-Legged Companions
We meet our guests at the reception at Abisko.net, where we welcome everyone and make sure they have the warm clothing and equipment they need for the evening.
From there, we walk together to the kennel, home to around 60 Alaskan huskies. Before heading out on the trail, there’s plenty of time to wander around, meet the dogs, and get to know some of their very different personalities.
Some are full of energy and eager for attention, while others are a little more laid-back. We then choose the huskies that will join us on our adventure, and with our four-legged companions ready, we head out into the Arctic evening.
Personalities in the Kennel
With around 60 huskies in the kennel, there’s no shortage of personalities! Some want to greet every single guest, others prefer to watch the excitement from a distance, and a few seem convinced that all the attention should belong to them.
Getting to know the dogs is part of the experience, and it’s often these little encounters that guests remember long after the hike.
Many arrive dreaming of the Northern Lights and leave with a few new four-legged friends in their hearts.
On the Trail
Along the way, we share stories about our life here in Abisko, the surrounding nature, local wildlife, and the Sámi culture and traditions of the region. Sometimes we stop to look at animal tracks in the snow, discover different lichens growing on the trees, or simply take a moment to appreciate the mountains around us.
But no two hikes are ever quite the same. We don’t follow a strict script. Instead, the conversations grow naturally from our guests’ questions and interests. Sometimes we talk about wildlife and the Arctic environment, other times about everyday life in the far north. We love sharing our knowledge, but we also enjoy discovering what our guests are curious about. That’s part of what makes every evening a little different.
We have a saying at Abisko Hikes: “Up here, life moves at its own pace. We just follow along.”
And that’s exactly how we approach our hikes. The dogs, the weather, the mountains, and the people we meet all shape the experience. We have a plan for the evening, of course, but we always leave room for spontaneous moments, unexpected discoveries, and simply enjoying where we are.
The Fire in the Lávvu
Partway through the evening we reach our lávvu. We light a fire and take a proper break, not a quick one.
The dogs settle around us. We pass around a hot lingonberry drink and something sweet, and the smell of wood smoke gets into everyone’s jackets. It’s a simple moment. It’s also often one of the best parts of the night, because you’ve just spent time in the cold and now you’re sitting close to a fire with strangers who’ve stopped being strangers.
The Walk Back
After the break we head back through the darkness with the huskies. Sometimes the Northern Lights appear on the way. Sometimes they don’t, and the route can differ from one evening to the next.
When they do show up, it tends to go the same way. Guests stop talking, everyone looks up, and the whole group stands there together with the dogs in the snow. Sometimes the huskies simply lie down beside us while we watch. Those quiet minutes are often what guests mention afterward.
What Most Articles Get Wrong About Abisko
Abisko is often sold almost entirely as a Northern Lights destination, and that can make it sound as if seeing them is nearly guaranteed. It isn’t. Weather and nature decide.
Some of our best evenings with guests have happened with no aurora at all. Some of the most memorable feedback we’ve received came from people who never saw a single flicker. They still left feeling they’d experienced something genuine and personal in Abisko.
So the question we wish more guests asked is: “What happens if we don’t see the Northern Lights?” We can’t control the sky. We can give you an evening outside with the huskies, the mountains, the Arctic night, and time around the fire. Some of our happiest guests have seen little or none of the aurora and called the evening a highlight of their trip.
What stays with people, more often than a single event, is the feeling of the whole evening slowing down. There’s time for the dogs, time to talk, and time to look at the mountains without hurrying toward the next thing.
Abisko Through the Seasons
The landscape changes completely through the year, and so does the walk.
Summer
The air can be mild and fresh, with long bright days and the midnight sun. The smell is birch forest, wet ground, and mountain air. You may hear birds and running water along the trail.
Autumn
Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year in Abisko. The mountains turn golden, the birch forests glow in shades of yellow and orange, and the first frost reminds us that winter is just around the corner.
As the midnight sun gives way to darker nights, the Northern Lights return to the sky. There’s something special about hiking through the colourful autumn landscape with the huskies, breathing in the crisp mountain air, and watching the seasons slowly change.
It’s a quieter time in the mountains, and one we truly love sharing with our guests.
Winter
Winter brings crisp, dry air, deep snow, and temperatures well below freezing. The air smells cold and clean. This is the season for the Northern Lights hike described above, with the lávvu fire waiting halfway.
Weather in the mountains can change quickly in any season. We shift the route and pace to match, and we think that’s part of the point. The Arctic doesn’t repeat itself, and no two hikes are quite the same.
The People Behind It
You’ll meet Anna and Fredrik, who run Abisko Hikes. Anna is a certified nature guide and has worked with huskies for many years. Fredrik grew up in northern Sweden and has a strong connection to the landscape around Abisko.
They started the hikes to keep the experience small and personal, with room for the dogs, the people, and whatever the Arctic offers on a given day.
Practical Information
Timing and Seasons
At Abisko Hikes, we offer different hiking experiences throughout the year, each with its own special character.
During autumn and winter, our Northern Lights Huskie Hike takes guests on an approximately three-hour evening adventure through the Arctic landscape. While we always hope to see the Northern Lights, nature has the final say, and no two evenings are ever quite the same.
In summer, we trade the dark Arctic skies for endless daylight and the midnight sun. Our summer husky hikes offer a completely different experience, exploring the mountains and forests together with our four-legged companions.
Meeting Point
The group meets at the reception at Abisko.net. From there everyone walks together to the kennel.
What to Bring
Winter evenings in Abisko can be extremely cold, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We provide warm winter overalls, insulated boots, mittens, and headlamps to help keep you comfortable throughout the adventure.
We recommend wearing warm layers underneath, preferably wool or thermal clothing. Before heading out, we make sure everyone is properly equipped and ready for the Arctic evening.
Who It Suits
Our hikes are perfect for nature lovers, families, couples, and anyone looking for a more personal way to experience Abisko. You don’t need to be an experienced hiker, but you should be comfortable walking a few kilometres on uneven or snowy terrain.
We keep our groups small, allowing everyone time to enjoy the surroundings, get to know the huskies, and experience the Arctic at a relaxed pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the huskies pull a sled on this hike?
No. You hike on foot with the dogs as companions through the Abisko landscape. Many visitors know huskies only from a sled, so the walking pace and the closeness to the dogs often surprise people.
Is it only worth doing in winter?
Winter is when the Northern Lights hike makes sense, but the hikes also run in summer and autumn. Summer brings the midnight sun, mild air, and the smell of birch forest and wet ground. The dogs and mountains are part of every season.
Can children come along?
Absolutely! Families are very welcome, and meeting the huskies at the kennel is often one of the highlights for our younger guests.
For our Northern Lights Huskie Hike, the minimum age is 7 years. Children should be comfortable walking in winter conditions, and we always adapt the pace to the group.
How cold will I actually get?
Winter temperatures can be well below freezing, with crisp, dry air and deep snow. We check everyone’s clothing and equipment at the start, and the stop at the lávvu fire gives the whole group time to warm up with a hot lingonberry drink.
What if the weather is bad?
Mountain weather can turn quickly, and we adapt the route and pace to the conditions and to the group. The evening might look different from what you pictured, but the format stays the same: dogs, trail, fire, and time outdoors.
Will the route be the same each time?
No. The route can differ from one evening to the next depending on the weather, snow, and group. That variation is a large part of why guests say each hike felt like its own evening in Abisko.
