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Héli Truffes - Truffle Academy
Departing from Tours, take a helicopter ride to the Domaine du Moribot to explore the world of the Académie de la Truffe. This experience includes a flight, a tour of the truffle fields, a truffle-hunting demonstration, and a tasting.
A Journey to Discover Truffles
Enjoy a unique experience with Héli Truffes – Académie de la Truffe: a gourmet helicopter flight combined with an immersive tour into the heart ofTouraine’s “black gold.” Fromthe Tours Val de Loire Airport, you’ll take off in a private helicopter for a roughly 40-minute flight over the Loire Valley châteaux before landing at the Domaine du Moribot, home of the Académie de la Truffe.
Truffle hunting with a truffle-hunting dog, a tour of the truffle fields, a gourmet truffle tasting, and a return flight by helicopter: a roughly 3-hour getaway designed for epicureans, foodies, and lovers of the Touraine region.
The Truffle Experience at Domaine du Moribot
Reception and discovery of truffle fields
On arrival, theAcadémie de la Truffe team welcomes you to the heart of the truffle estate. After a presentation of the site and the Academy, you'll set off to meet the truffle growers of Touraine.
The Domaine du Moribot is home to five truffle groves arranged in landscape patterns visible from the sky: Spiral, Fan, Oak Leaf…More than 12,000 truffle trees were planted between 2016 and 2022, using an approach that combines agronomic innovation with respect for nature.
Truffle-dog cavage demonstration
With your boots on, you'll be treated to a demonstration of cavage, the art of finding truffles. Guided by the truffle dog and his master, you'll discover how ripe truffles are spotted, dug up with precision and then put back into cultivation.
It's an opportunity to better understand the truffle cycle, its relationship with the tree, the secrets of the soil and the know-how of truffle growers, while observing truffle hunting in real-life situations.
Truffle tasting
The tour continues with a gastronomic tasting of black gold:
- Truffled butter,
- truffle brouillade,
- all accompanied by two carefully selected glasses of wine to match the flavours of the truffle.
For around 2 hours, you'll talk to the estate's teams about the different varieties of truffle, their aromas, food & wine pairings and truffle growing in Touraine.
After the tasting, you can purchase exceptional truffles directly on site, as well as related products, to prolong the experience at home.
The Domaine du Moribot & the Truffle Academy
The Domaine du Moribot, located near Chinon, is a place entirely dedicated to Touraine truffles and local cuisine. Conceived as a true hub for education and culinary enjoyment, the Académie de la Truffe brings together:
- a production truffle estate,
- tasting and reception areas,
- a local restaurant and culinary workshops,
- truffle-growing educational trails.
Two major truffle varieties are featured:
- the black winter truffle (Tuber melanosporum),
- the summer truffle (Tuber aestivum).
The Académie is based on an integrated cultivation method: tillage, over-mycorrhization, precise tree pruning, controlled irrigation... An approach that is both innovative and respectful of natural balances.
Return helicopter flight to Tours
After this immersion in the heart ofTouraine's black gold, you board the helicopter for a 20-minute return flight to our heliport near Tours.
This final flight gives you one last overview of the Loire Valley, its rivers, villages and vineyards, before returning to the soil of Touraine.
How Your Experience Will Unfold
Welcome at Tours Val de Loire airport
Your truffle helicopter flight begins atTours Val de Loire airport, in the heart of Touraine:
- 5 minutes from the A10 (Paris - Bordeaux) and A28 (Le Mans) motorways,
- about 10 minutes from downtown Tours and the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps TGV station,
- 55 minutes from Paris Montparnasse by TGV.
On site, our team welcomes you, checks your tickets and accompanies you to the helicopter. Your professional pilot will give you a safety briefing and present you with the flight plan: the castles you will fly over, the route to Chinon and the arrival at the Domaine de Moribot.
Helicopter flight: 40 minutes over the castles and landscapes of the Loire Valley
You'll board one of our Bell 206 helicopters (JetRanger or LongRanger), the benchmark for panoramic flights. Headphones on, you'll enjoy the pilot's commentary and 360° views of the Loire Valley.
During a 40-minute flight, you will fly over some of the jewels of the Loire Valley:
- the Château de Villandry and its formal gardens,
- Château de Langeais, between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance,
- the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, resting on the waters of the Indre,
- Château de l'Islette, home to Rodin and Camille Claudel,
- Château d'Ussé, associated with the legend of Sleeping Beauty,
- the Royal Fortress of Chinon, overlooking the Vienne and the historic town.
Your flight concludes with a spectacular arrival at the Domaine du Moribot, nestled in the heart of a vast truffle estate designed as a setting for the Académie de la Truffe.
Everything You Need to Know Before Your Experience
about 40 minutes one way + ~20 minutes on the way back
about 3:00
Flights from December through March (for other periods, please contact us at 02 47 24 81 44)
Tours Val de Loire Airport
Domaine du Moribot – Académie de la Truffe (Chinon region)
private flight (1 to 6 passengers, depending on the helicopter)
Appropriate footwear (boots or closed-toe shoes), seasonal clothing, and rain gear if needed for the outdoor tour.
Like any flight operation, this experience is subject to weather conditions. In the event of strong winds, rain, or fog, the flight may be postponed to ensure the safety and quality of both the flight and the tour.
This experience is open to anyone in good general health. Please let us know about any special circumstances (limited mobility, recent surgery, pregnancy, etc.) so we can assess whether participation is feasible.
Effective July 1, 2025, parking at the Tours Airport will be charged after 2 hours (the first 2 hours are free).
Starting at €1,999 for the group; payment can be made in two installments with no fees via our secure platform.
Choose your experience
To book your Héli Truffes - Académie de la Truffe experience:
Our team is at your disposal for any customized project (privatization, corporate groups, adaptation of schedules, additional services):
Treat yourself to a moment suspended between sky, truffle fields and castles with Héli Truffes - Académie de la Truffe, and discover Touraine under the sign of the black diamond.
Select your private flight on this page (groups of up to 6 people) and validate your order online.
Receive your flight confirmation with indicative timetables and practical information.
On D-Day, meet us at Tours Val de Loire airport to embark on the Touraine black diamond and experience your truffle escapade by helicopter.
02 47 24 81 44
An experience that suits you
This premium truffle offer is particularly suited to :
Private helicopter tour, flight over the Loire Valley castles, visit to truffle farms, truffle-hunting demonstration, and tasting.
You’ll discover the Touraine region first from the sky, then with your feet on the ground, up close to the truffle fields.
The Domaine du Moribot andthe Académie de la Truffe, leading names in truffle cultivation in Touraine.
A private helicopter for your group—perfect for a few close friends, clients, or colleagues.
The perfect choice for a memorable birthday, a corporate event, a Christmas gift, or a culinary getaway.
lovers of gastronomy and exceptional products,
a top-of-the-range birthday or Christmas gift,
a romantic weekend or a life-changing occasion,
a seminar or company day focusing on terroir and CSR,
a VIP customer invitation or an exceptional incentive,
wine, truffle and Loire landscape enthusiasts.
Expertise That Enhances Your Experience
Based in Touraine for over 45 years, Air Touraine is an airline specializing in tourist flights by helicopter, hot-air balloon and airship, as well as aerial work. Our Bell 206 helicopters are renowned for their stability, safety and panoramic comfort.
Our operations are governed by a number of official aeronautical approvals (air carrier, specialized operator, flight school, airworthiness manager), guaranteeing the regulatory reliability and safety of each and every one of our flights.
TheAcadémie de la Truffe is the embodiment of truffle-growing excellence in Touraine: a production estate, a place where truffles are passed on and tasted, and a place to discover the black diamond.
Together, we imagine experiences that are in line with our Green Flag CSR approach: promoting local products, local partnerships, education and respect for the areas we fly over.
Tours Val de Loire Airport
Tours Val de Loire airport is located in the heart of Touraine and serves several European destinations.
An easily accessible airport :
- 5 minutes from the A10 Paris Bordeaux and A28 Le Mans motorways.
(Take exit n°20 on the A10 freeway).
- 10 min from Tours city center and St Pierre des Corps TGV station
- 55 min by TGV from the heart of Paris (Montparnasse).
ATTENTION
From July 1, 2025, parking at TOURS airport will be chargeable (2h free).
More information is available on the SMADAIT WEBSITE.
Gardens and Castle of Villandry
Château de Villandry, the last great Renaissance château in the Loire Valley, embodies both the elegance of its architecture and the beauty of its remarkable gardens. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this jewel of the Loire Valley attracts visitors every year to admire its sober facades and geometric flowerbeds.
Seen from the sky, Villandry reveals its full extent and the perfection of its six emblematic gardens: the vegetable garden, which combines aesthetics and utility, the ornamental garden for its decorative motifs, the water garden offering a haven of freshness, the medicinal plant garden steeped in history, the labyrinth inviting discovery and finally the sun garden bathed in light.
Several illustrious owners have shaped this unique estate, including Jean Le Breton, minister to François I, the Marquis de Castellane, ambassador to Louis XV, Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon I, and Joachim Carvallo. Each has left his or her mark, helping to make Villandry one of the jewels in the crown of Loire Valley châteaux.
Flying over the Loire Valley, it's easy to understand the harmony between the majestic Loire, the tuffeau slopes and the art of gardening. This region, renowned for its wines and architectural heritage, provides the ideal backdrop for the splendor of Villandry and its many neighboring châteaux. Between history, art of living and breathtaking landscapes, a visit to Villandry - and even more so a discovery from the sky - is an unforgettable experience at the heart of Touraine's treasures.
Terms and Conditions of Sale
- Terms of payment :
Full payment is required at the time of order (via credit card, cheque or vacation vouchers, cash, bank transfer).
For your convenience, we offer the possibility of paying in 2 instalments free of charge by credit card via our secure online payment platform.
- Extend the validity of your ticket:
If you wish to extend the validity of your ticket, opt for our extension option and getan extra year to enjoy your experience.
- Cancellation option :
You can take out a cancellation option when you order or book a date, allowing you to postpone your flight or be reimbursed in the event of a definitive cancellation on your part.
Our CSR commitments: Green Flag project
Our CSR commitments: GREEN FLAG project
Winds of change meet commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Our sector cannot turn its back on its responsibility for the aviation of tomorrow, and that's why, as a pioneer in green aviation, we're committed to pushing back the boundaries of the airline industry by integrating CSR into every aspect of our business, whether in our helicopters, hot-air balloons or airships.
Our approach to CSR is based on three fundamental pillars:
The Environmental Component :
We are aware of the environmental impact of our flight operations. That's why we invest in cutting-edge technologies to reduce our carbon emissions, minimize our ecological footprint and preserve the fragile ecosystems we fly over. From reducing fuel consumption to adopting sustainable biofuels and protecting the biodiversity of our heliport, every flight is a step towards a cleaner, more environmentally-friendly aviation future.
The Societal Component :
We firmly believe that our success as an airline goes hand in hand with the well-being of the communities we serve. That's why we're committed to supporting local initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion among our staff, and ensuring some of the highest standards of safety and well-being in the industry. From creating local jobs to promoting sustainable tourism, we work to be a driver of prosperity and social development wherever we operate.
The Economic Component :
Economic sustainability is at the heart of our business model. We are constantly looking for ways to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs and invest in fair and ethical business practices. By working with local partners and fostering inclusive economic growth, we help strengthen regional economies and promote a sustainable financial future for all.
Our approvals
Our Aeronautical Approvals
At Air Touraine, we're proud to hold the aeronautical industry's most prestigious certifications, testifying to our expertise, safety and professionalism. These certifications, obtained through strict controls and rigorous audits, attest to our compliance with the industry's most demanding standards.
Here is a list of our approvals:
Helicopter air carrier: FR.AOC.0079
Hot-air balloon carrier: FR-O063
Operator specialized in high-risk aerial work: FR.DEC.0110
Flying school (helicopter / hot-air balloon) : FR.DTO.0284
Airworthiness Manager: FR.CAMO.0116
Each code represents a specific recognition of our commitment to safety, the quality of our services and our ability to meet the requirements of the aeronautical sector. Thanks to these approvals, Air Touraine can guarantee its customers certified expertise and an optimum level of service.
By choosing Air Touraine, you're choosing trust and excellence, backed by high-level certifications that place safety and quality at the heart of our concerns.
Our Tourism Approvals
Travel Agency Certifications: A Guarantee of Trust and Excellence
At Air Touraine, our commitment to quality, safety and transparency is reflected in the certifications we have earned in the travel industry. These labels attest to our seriousness and expertise, while guaranteeing our customers services that comply with the strictest standards.
Certifications that make all the difference
Our certifications are the fruit of rigorous work and a constant commitment to excellence. They illustrate our ability to offer tailor-made trips, with customer satisfaction and safety at the heart of our concerns. Thanks to these labels, we can assure you of transparent management, impeccable service quality and total compliance with the regulations in force in the tourism industry.
We are registered with the Registre des Operateurs de Voyage et de Séjours: IM03700003, enabling us to offer you holidays.
Financial Guarantee: ATRADIUS, 159 rue Anatole France-CS50118-92596 LEVALLOIS PERRET
Professional liability insurance: ALLIANZ IARD, 1 Cours Michelet-92076 PARIS LA DEFENSE.
Contract no. 086846 956
When you choose Air Touraine, you're opting for a certified travel agency that puts quality, safety and innovation at the heart of its services. Let us convince you of our proven expertise, and enjoy exceptional travel experiences with complete peace of mind.
