Kartik’s Sweden Adventure: Dashing for the Northern Lights with Thrillophilia

With my eyes and ears wide open, I listened carefully to every word as our guide prepared us for the big day!

During the briefing session, he told us to dress properly in layers to keep ourselves warm, wear a headlamp and carry some snacks, especially energy bars. We were also told to check our camera settings beforehand and to manually keep high ISO, low shutter speed and wide angle lenses to click the perfect picture.

Now you must be wondering, what was this BIG DAY…?

Well, this briefing session took place in Stockholm and the next day we were heading towards Kiruna, a small city, to witness the Northern Lights.

For some people, the Northern Lights are just a rare natural phenomenon or an unusual display of colours in the sky. For me, it was not only a bucket-list activity but also a lifelong dream!

I got to know about Aurora Borealis when I watched it in an old Hollywood movie called, The Golden Compass. The movie was a big hit due to its exciting storyline, but it was that one scene with the stunning Northern Lights that stole all my attention.

I got so fascinated by it that I kept searching more and more about it. In the duration of 17 years, this fascination turned into a dream that brought me here in Sweden with my friends. After all these years, finally, I was going to witness this rare phenomenon with my own eyes. The excitement was off the charts and I couldn’t help but count down the hours until the big day.

To Fulfilling Lifelong Dreams!

It was around 2 pm in the afternoon when we reached Kiruna. The moment I set foot into this city, I was left speechless. It was way more beautiful than the pictures I had seen online before coming on the trip.

First, we kept our luggage inside a lodge and had our lunch there. After lunch, we had exactly 2 hours of leisure time which all of us spent in our own ways.

Some went ice fishing in the nearby lake while some wanted to simply rest in their rooms. My friends and I, on the other hand, decided to explore the backside of the lodge which somewhat looked like a jungle.

In the next two hours, all of us gathered around the lodge, eager to witness the wonders of nature. From Kiruna, we reached Camp Ripan which is a famous spot for witnessing the Northern Lights. It was approximately a 20-minute hike, full of mesmerising views of the Swedish Lapland.

My heart raced as I waited, full of excitement and high expectations. During the briefing, we were informed that witnessing the Northern Lights is 50% about weather and 50% about luck. Gladly, the weather was perfect that day, with absolute clear skies and darkness. Now all we needed was a little luck to kick in..!

Then, exactly at 1:13 AM, our guide shouted, “Look Up!”

We all left whatever we were doing and stood up with our eyes wide open. There it was, the moment I had been waiting for. A faint and distant green glow in the sky, right above the frozen lake. It was subtle at first but soon it grew stronger. In no time, that glowing stream of light was right above us.

I stood there speechless for minutes, not knowing how to take it all in. The beauty of the Northern Lights is not something one can describe in words. Undoubtedly, it was the most beautiful and breathtaking thing I had ever seen in my life. I was so overwhelmed with happiness and excitement that tears of joy filled my eyes. I felt like I was that same kid from 17 years ago, frozen in front of the TV, witnessing the Northern Lights for the first time.

(P.S. Writing this with misty eyes and goosebumps from head to toe!)

Sweden’s Heartbeat: Diving into Stockholm

Well, my entire trip to Sweden was not just about the Northern Lights, even though that was the highlight. But, yes, I spent a good amount of time in the capital city, Stockholm, exploring its grand palaces and cosy cafes, and touring places.

I loved the tour of The Royal Palace which was truly an architectural wonder. I also devoted an entire day to exploring and enjoying the fun rides at the Liseberg Amusement Park.

This vibrant city is also famous for its museum which I couldn’t miss out on. So, my tour also included a visit to popular museums like the Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum and Swedish History Museum.

Not to forget, I also explored quite a few cafes and restaurants during my trip. In fact, my favourite leisure activity there was to put on our sliders, explore the neighbourhood and find some pretty cafes. Some of the amazing local dishes that I tried there were Falukorv, Gravlax, Semla and Pea Soup and Pancakes.

That was not it- we also tried some fun activities! Starting with the craziest one- the dog sledding ride.

Honestly, it was one of the wildest experiences where my friends and I kept falling on top of each other and laughing throughout the ride. Next, we did something peaceful which was taking a cruise ride in the fjords, witnessing the astounding beauty of Sweden all the while.

Overall, my trip to Sweden was literally a dream come true! I came back with a bag full of memories that I still cannot stop replaying in my mind.

For anyone considering a trip to Sweden to see the Northern Lights, I can only say: do it! You’ll come back with a story of magic, beauty, and wonder that words can barely capture.

Read More: Thrillophilia Sweden Reviews