This year, we’re setting off on a journey around the world in search of Pachamama. The lanterns of Thoiry Lumières Sauvages have lit up once again in the Yvelines (78), about 45 minutes from Paris, and we hit the road to see what this new season has in store. WOW Safari Thoiry is illuminated from October 17, 2026, to March 7, 2027.
On the program for this 9th edition, titled In the Footsteps of Pachamama: an almost 3-kilometer nighttime walk and more than 3,000 illuminated sculptures. Plenty to fill the evenings during the All Saints’ Day holidays, the year-end holidays and the winter break. Here’s a look at what’s in store, with photos.
Last year's Dance of the Spirits has given way to a true adventure story. We follow in the footsteps of an explorer who set off around the world in search of a forgotten secret. The animals seem to know the answer, the forests still bear its traces, but humans, it seems, lost it somewhere along the way.
One question serves as the guiding thread: what connects all living things? At each stop, a clue is revealed, a little like turning the pages of a travel journal as you walk. The ending, however, remains under wraps until the very end of the trail, and we won’t spoil it for you.
The title does offer a clue. In Andean cultures, Pachamama embodies Mother Earth, the one who nourishes humans and connects them to the rest of the living world. The whole point of the evening is to discover what role she plays in our adventurer’s quest.
The journey takes you from one continent to another along the park’s walking trails, through gardens and a maze. Giant animals, fantastical plants and astonishing creatures appear one after another along a route that the official Thoiry Lumières Sauvages website divides into several stops:
The scenery changes at every turn, giving the route the rhythm of a serial. We move from the blue of the ocean depths to the white of the ice before rediscovering the warm colors of the Andes, and the photos capture it better than words can.
The hand-sculpted figures, covered in silk, were installed throughout the summer by around twenty artists, technicians and designers. The sound design, which we enjoyed last season, plays a more prominent role here: light, music and narration move forward together, inviting visitors to slow their pace.
New for 2026, the free WOW Animal Explorer app accompanies visitors on their walk. Launched in June at WOW Safari Thoiry, it offers a route dedicated to Lumières Sauvages, with exclusive content that enriches the explorer’s quest.
Download it on iOS or Android, then load the route before setting off (Wi-Fi is available on site). Then simply turn on location services: the content plays automatically at certain spots, with no scanning or account creation required. Slip some headphones into your pocket so you don’t disturb other walkers.
The app is optional. You can enjoy the walk just as much without a screen, looking up as you go—provided you keep one hand free for photos.
Admission is included with the day ticket to WOW Safari Thoiry and with the Annual Pass. You can therefore enjoy the drive-through safari, explore the park on foot and see the illuminations after dark. For evening-only visits, the ticket office offers a Lumières Sauvages ticket for €23 for adults (€25 from December 19, 2026, to January 2, 2027) and €19 for children throughout the season. Admission is free for children under 3, and tickets can be bought online or on site, including on the day.
The trail is generally open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with last entry at 8:15 p.m. On some evenings, it closes earlier, at 8 p.m. (last entry at 7:15 p.m.), and a few evenings at the start of the season begin at 6 p.m. The event is not open every day, so check the opening calendar before setting off. Allow about two hours to complete the route, with time for photos.
Driving is still the easiest option: take the A13 from Porte d’Auteuil, then the A12 and N12 toward Dreux, and exit at Thoiry. Without a car, the park’s website lists bus 78 from the train stations at Mantes-la-Jolie, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines or Villiers-Neauphle-Pontchartrain. Check the time of the last bus, as the walk ends in the evening.
To warm up, a chalet in the Tamarins pinchés area serves waffles, crêpes, hot drinks and snacks, while Café Delicio offers light evening meals. Toilets are located along the route.
With its narrative thread and clues to spot, this edition is first and foremost for families. Children follow the adventurer as if on a treasure hunt, while parents enjoy the spectacle. It also makes for a great outing for couples or friends: an autumn evening during the Toussaint school holidays, a magical night in the run-up to Christmas, or a winter-break escape. It also complements our ideas for parks and zoos to visit for Halloween 2026.
A few precautions before setting out. The entire walk takes place outdoors, along an unpaved forest track, so bring warm clothing and sturdy shoes, especially in midwinter. The route is accessible to strollers with large wheels and to people with reduced mobility using a suitable wheelchair. It keeps a respectful distance from the enclosures to avoid disturbing the animals.
To extend your day in the department, check out our ideas for things to do in the Yvelines this weekend and our guide to what to do in the Yvelines.
If the lanterns have left you wanting more, there are two other illuminated walks to discover this season. In the Bois de Vincennes, L'Odyssée Lumineuse 2026 at the Parc Floral showcases its 1,200 lanterns and illuminated fountains without leaving Paris. In Seine-et-Marne, Lumigny Safari de Lumières offers a brand-new trail of giant lanterns, also set in the heart of a wildlife park.
And to round out the season, our pick of the light festivals in Paris and Île-de-France highlights all the illuminated strolls to discover through spring.
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Dates and Opening Time
Starts October 17, 2026
Location
Wow Safari Thoiry
Rue du Pavillon de Montreuil
78770 Thoiry
Route planner
Prices
moins de 3 ans: Free
Enfants: €19
Adultes à partir de: €23
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.thoiry.net
More information
From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
