Swedish Lapland Tour

Absolutely unforgettable tour hosted by 2 incredible people. Both Peter and David were incredibly accommodating, friendly and knowledgeable about photography and culture. I would rate this tour higher if I could.

This was a trip I had been looking forward to for a while and I was not disappointed, in fact it was better than anything I could have imagined. The dog sledding and reindeer sledding were a highlight, and the fact that we saw such a good show of the Aurora was the cherry on top. David and Peter were the most knowledgeable guides and were only too willing to share that knowledge. They were also very kind and accommodating with our needs. I would highly recommend this tour!

The most amazing eight day experience, with highlight after highlight. Peter and David looked after our every need, and I can’t believe how enjoyable -30 degrees can be. Do yourselves a favour, and book a trip with these two wonderful humans.

What an experience ! My husband and I joined the tour with 5 other guests and what a truly memorable experience it was. Swedish Lapland is a magical winter wonderland
of breathtaking beauty and scenes straight out of a storybook. Peter and David were caring, professional, knowledgeable, flexible and great company. Making our tour run smoothly was their top priority. We can’t speak highly enough of them. They always had a contingency plan and decisions were always made by the entire group.

The photography side of the tour didn’t distract from the enjoyment of the daily fun adventures and both of us learnt a lot from Peter and David, even though we are more ‘memory’ photographers.

There are so many high lights of this tour that it is hard to say what was the best…..the entire tour was amazing and we would recommend anyone considering this tour to not hesitate in booking it.

As other reviews have stated, the accommodation, food, ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences and adventures were incredible and have given us unforgettable memories.

Thank you Peter, David and the tour group for the extraordinary time together.

This trip really was amazing. We were fortunate enough to see Aurorae 4 nights, we went dog sledding, some of our party did reindeer sled driving (we went in a motorised sled!), we went moose hunting (photographically) – every day there was something new to do and stunning landscapes to wonder at. Some of our party were exceptional photographers, but even we less expert people, with Peter and David’s encouragement and guidance, were able to take some very good photos. Peter and David were absolutely amazing – nothing was too much trouble for them and their patience, kindness and exceptional knowledge made this an unforgettable, life enhancing experience that we know will continue to resonate in the coming months.

This tour is amazing & organised by professional, caring & helpful people who couldn’t do enough for their clients. They worked super hard to ensure we experienced the aurora wherever possible & enjoyed all the other experiences on offer. They were always available with photographic assistance & provided the gear we needed to be comfortable in the cold conditions. The accommodation was great & the included meals were absolutely excellent. I would highly recommend this tour.

David and Peter put on a show equal to that of the magical Aurora filled nights. I enjoyed the critique sessions of the photos we took and the insights from these two pros as to how to make them better. I feel I am a better photographer from the time spent with David and Peter. Even if you are not a photographer and want to experience a different way of life, you will enjoy this trip. Each day brought its own uniqueness which made this trip special!

My wife, Sue and I just finished a wonderful winter photography tour of Lapland led by Peter Rosen and David Evans. Both Peter and David were generous in sharing their extensive knowledge, helping us improve our photography and get better shots. While there is a focus on the aurora (which did not disappoint), the winter landscapes and soft skies are simply stunning. They also provided some extra lenses (high quality) to help better capture photos in lower light and tripods, so no need to drag one with you from home. Being a local meant that Peter knew the area extremely well and where go to see stunning views. Experiencing reindeer and dog sledding was a little different but moving through the trees and snow with either the dogs or the reindeer was very enjoyable and also provided the opportunity to learn a little of the local Sami culture. The outer clothes provided to us did the job extremely well and given that temps dropped to -30 C good clothes are a must. Great location, great teachers, good food and accommodation and great fellow travellers. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking for a photographic tour experience that can and does provide that WOW factor. It certainly did not disappoint and we loved the experience.

It was an amazing trip, an adventure, spectacular scenery start to finish. Peter Rosen and David Evans are professionals in everything they do. The trip is well curated and no matter what your level is as a photographer you will come away with some amazing photographs and learnings. Having a local photographer was also great as Peter knew where the best places were and so much about the environment, wild life and culture.
The places we were taken to photograph were spectacular. We were very lucky to have had the Aurora come out on numerous nights, across stunning landscapes. The accomodation and food also amazing an experience to really get to know local food and culture. Food was fabulous especially to get to know local dishes. During the day we were taken on adventures from rain dear sledding to husky sleds across frozen lakes and beautiful snow laden trees all around us, learning Sami Culture and sitting in a Lavvu having a traditional meal.. it was such an amazing experience.. one we will never forget. David and Peter were fantastic guides.. can’t recommend this trip more highly

My wife and I did Peter and David’s 8-day photography tour of Lapland and we can’t recommend it highly enough. Not only did we see (and photograph) the Aurora Borealis on multiple nights we went dog sledding, reindeer sledding, captured rare mother-of-pearl clouds, learnt about Sami culture, and enjoyed some great food along the way (all dietary problems can be accommodated) including a delicious meal at the beautiful ice hotel. We were able to get to some unique locations to capture the northern lights against some beautiful foregrounds.
Peter has lived and worked in the area for many years and is very knowledgable, not only about photography but also the local environment and climate. When weather conditions prevented us from doing certain activities he always had a back-up plan and we also learnt a lot about how to better photograph the night sky. I would recommend this tour for photographers of all levels, he is very patient and helpful with beginners whilst setting some new challenges for those that are more advanced.
The clothing and equipment provided was excellent and our safety and well-being in the extreme conditions was always a priority. The accommodation was very comfortable.
All in all an excellent tour, I think the best we have done!
Thanks Peter & David!

The Aurora Borealis will change your life! Peter and David were determined to provide us with as many opportunities to see them as they could. Peter monitored the Aurora forecast and had a plan to travel where the visibility was best. In fact, I don’t think he slept! The other people providing lodging and services were warming and worked hard to make us all comfortable. They worked hard to meet my dietary needs, which is always difficult when I travel.
Peter and David were flexible with the needs of our group and did it all with a smile:) The only thing I wished we had time for was one more day in Norway….but they have a Norway tour! They just give you a taste so you come back and I plan to! You won’t regret this trip!

I have just returned from the Swedish Lapland and Aurora Borealis tour with Lonely Planet photographer David Evans and local guide Peter Rosen, a professional photographer and expert in aurora, night, landscape and wildlife photography. What an amazing experience this was. From the time I arrived in Stockholm, I was so well looked after. I am a point and shoot photographer but with the guidance of Peter and David, I have brought home some incredible photos. Peter’s local knowledge meant we went to beautiful locations by dog sled and vehicle, and I thoroughly enjoyed not only the photographic opportunities but also being able to participate in activities such as dog sledding, reindeer sledding, visiting the famous Ice Hotel, and enjoying life in the forest outside Kiruna. Our accommodation both in the forest and at Abrisko was excellent as were all our meals. We were so fortunate to have had good weather, and to see the northern lights on 6 out of 7 nights. Peter went out of his way to make sure we had every opportunity including driving into Norway on the last night because of fog in Abrisko, where we saw the most amazing aurora borealis display, so much so that many of us put down the cameras and just watched in awe as the northern lights burst up from behind the cliffs and danced and weaved across the sky. Thank you David and Peter for this once in a lifetime experience. If you want to see Swedish Lapland in all its beauty, book this tour, you will not regret it.

Fantastic trip with Peter and David, look after us and we saw the Northern Lights 4 nights in a row !!!!
Reindeer ride was beyond description and great fun. Would strongly recommend this trip to those that have a sense of adventure.

It took me about 4 years to decide which tour to book to make my wish of seeing the Northern Lights come true and so the biggest thank you to David and Peter doesn’t seem enough for a truly amazing holiday where I saw the Aurora in all its glory and beauty dance and swirl across the beautiful Lappland sky for 4 consecutive nights.
David and Peter were fabulous hosts and very patient teachers who made every day special. They ensured we photographed the Aurora in different and incredibly beautiful settings and taught us how to take the best possible photo not only of the Aurora but also of the Lappland wildlife and landscape. The nights were cold to say the least but they always made sure they packed the survival kit of hot chocolate.
The accommodation and especially the food was outstanding at the Ice Hotel, Reindeer Lodge and Abisko and the overwhelming silence experienced on a chairlift travelling 900m above sea level to the Abisko Aurora Sky Station at 9pm was surreal. Photographing and walking amongst the reindeer and then reindeer sledding with the local Sami gentlemen were days that I just didn’t want to end.
What also made this tour special was the small group size of only 8 people who by the way were great company and the many funny incidents that happened still make me laugh today.
I cannot recommend this holiday enough.

I started planning my trip with David Evans and Peter Rosen after reading a newspaper article on what they offered. This was a bucketlist trip, to photograph the aurora, and I wanted it to be all that I dreamed…….it was, and then some!  David Evans was a wonderful host through Stockholm, and once entering the Arctic Circle and meeting up with Peter Rosen, the experiences just kept getting better and better!  From a night in the Ice Hotel to the beautiful Reindeer Lodge, Abisko Sky Station (accessed by chairlift, worth it just for this!!) and reindeer sledding, and exploring Sami culture – every single day was incredible!

This trip was capped at 8 guests, which meant all guests had great access to the wealth of knowledge and expertise that David and Peter have, both in the area and with photography.  I learnt so much about photography, captured some beautiful images, saw the lights dance across the night sky 3 times (!!!!) and have memories that will last me a lifetime!

I would recommend this trip, with David and Peter, to everybody!

I booked this tour with Australian pro photographer David Evans, who is a close friend of Lappland media owner and guide Peter Rosen. Together they conducted an absolutely perfect photo tour. Both have extensive photography experience and patience, and Peter has a background in climate science and nature photography. He also has a sixth sense on when and where the aurora will appear. This proved crucial in being able to witness and capture what Peter and David described as the best aurora show of the season, which exploded in the sky above us for over two hours.
The aurora thought was only part of the tour… Stockholm with David as an intro, Ice Hotel, authentic Lapland and Saami history and experiences, reindeer sledding, endless photography, hiking, workshops, world class cuisine and friends for life.

Sure some other tours may offer you a chance at the lights, but none offer as much variety and extra content as well as a very high likelihood of witnessing the greatest light show on earth. Skip the rest and book with the best, you won’t regret your time with Peter Rosen and David Evans.

I just got back from this amazing 8-day Swedish Lapland Photography excursion. What a wonderful trip. Full of a variety of activities which all had many opportunities to stop and frame our best possible photo shots. Peter and David were excellent coaches, showing skill and patience so that each of us could learn and grow our photography skills. I’ve come home with a great portfolio and even greater memories. Don’t hesitate to sigh up – you will love every minute.

We spent time in far Northern Sweden with Peter Rosen and David Evans. Despite bitterly cold weather (the lowest it got was -43.5) Peter’s local knowledge kept us safe and happy! We had 5/5 nights with Aurora (at least 3 were excellent to photograph) viewing, exposure to the Sapmi peoples (and in no way was the experience contrived or cheesy) and some of their culture and food. Our accommodations were excellent, the food was far better than I had anticipated in the remote surroundings – in fact they would have been quite at home in any capital city. Peter hunted down moose (for the camera, not for a gun) and reindeer, as well as stunning landscapes in the extremely limited daylight. I would recommend to absolutely anyone and will be talking about it for a long time to come.

Great holiday. Peter is a skilled photographic instructor who delights in sharing the local area he knows well. His empathy with the Sammi culture enhanced our trip which had great food,saunas reindeers, moose and auroras. He was able to help us through extreme temperatures with safety and good humour. Great holiday

I highly recommend you book a tour with Peter and David.
It was the most amazing experience I have had in my life!
From reindeer sledding through a snowy forest,to a traditional Sami lunch in a Lavuu (native Sami tent), to the pinnacle of seeing an aurora in real life made this a once in a lifetime trip.
Peter and David will go the extra mile to find you that elusive aurora, teach you how to get the best out of your camera, give you facts and information about the culture of Sweden and even teach you Astro photography if you like!
This isn’t just your average tour, you are taken to amazing destinations that are not typically part of the standard run of the mill tours. You go to places that not many others have been before and it feels special and exclusive.
I had a great time on the tour and will happily recommend Peter and David to anyone wanting the best experience ever!
Thanks!

Reflecting on our wonderful trip to Lappland Sweden as we show the photographs and tell of our adventure to family and friends, the whole experience seems surreal! But real it was indeed – and what a truly fantastic time we had!

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Stockholm, Kiruna and Abisko. Peter and David, our guides, photography teachers and in the end our friends were exceptional and made our trip to Lappland so unique.

The group was a good size and the ratio of 4:1 photographic expert to client was excellent. Peter Rosen’s specialist knowledge of the area, the Aurora and the environment was outstanding – the combination of a scientist and photographer meant we were constantly learning. If you want to really get under the skin of an area always talk to a local and in Peter you have not only a local hero, but a scientist and photographer who published the book! A politer, patient and more accommodating man you couldn’t wish to meet and his company was a pleasure. David’s photographic talent, knowledge and teaching was brilliant and his simplification of the subject and CDM will stay with us hopefully as long as our memories last! If you didn’t have your own equipment, there was plenty of up to date cameras and lenses to borrow from Peter who is sponsored by Canon.

The tour was well balanced and flowed nicely. You can never guarantee the Aurora but we were lucky enough to see it 3 out of 5 opportunities and the trip inspired us to reconnect with photography. It has been a long time since I took photographs with my old Canon SLR and this tour has rekindled my interest and made me excited once again about photography. We got some wonderful photographs – the most impressive and highlight – photographing from the roof of Peter’s cabin!

A night at the Ice hotel, 2 at Reindeer lodge and 2 at Abisko Sky station was the ideal combination. Our personal favourite was Reindeer lodge, where the accommodation although basic was fun and an adventure and the cabins were warm and cosy with log fires – and reindeer outside your door! The food from the Ice hotel to the Sky station was delicious and delightfully local.

If you like photography and want to see the Aurora choose this trip and you will be star struck!

I’m a lucky man. I’ve just spent the most amazing 7 days chasing the Northern Lights.

Firstly, and most importantly I cannot say enough about our local host Peter Rosén. He went above and beyond to ensure we were well looked after and he found us great places to see the lights. Listening to Peter you are struck by his knowledge, passion and love for this land and especially photographing it. Secondly, whilst the “lights” were the main reason for being there, we also had the pleasure of a meal with a Sámi family. It felt natural and in no way kitsch. Certainly, a highlight.

When I arrived in Kiruna, I was a “point and shoot” photographer (still am). But Peter gave me confidence during the week that I thought I could photograph anything. But reading and seeing the pictures in his book “Aurora Borealis in Lapland” it did bring me back down to earth. However, photographically, the main thing I did learn is that good photography is not necessarily knowing what the buttons on the camera can do but what you see with your eyes. If you like it then it’s the best photograph in the world.

We were a fortunate group. We had good showings of the “lights” on five of the first six nights. But nothing could have prepared us for the seventh and last night. Peter could sense the “lights” were out there somewhere. Even driving kilometres into Norway to find them. Some people say they can hear the “lights”. I’m sure Peter could smell them.

When it looked like our night was over and with a moderate to good showing, the sky exploded. All around us was a sea of dancing colours, shapes and wonderment. Just like Peter had predicted. The “lights” were in full bloom and they just stop you in your tracks, you just don’t know where to look next. The lights had the strange effect on some of the people in our group. They made adults roll about on the snow looking at the sky constantly sighing “wow” and other exclamations of joy and wonder. (And absolutely no sex involved).

When the “lights” come out as they did on the last night It’s a tough choice, do you watch them or photograph them. In the end, it’s no contest. You have to watch them. I am indeed a lucky man.

PS
Did I also tell you we “ate like lords”, visited the famous Ice Hotel, chased moose, fought reindeer, drove on frozen lakes on snow mobiles, drank hot chocolate in remote locations, slipped waist deep into snow and smelt dogs farting on two dog sleigh rides? Well, we did all that as well.