Truffle Hunting at Les Pastras
Truffle Hunting at Les Pastras
Truffle Hunting at Les Pastras
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Go behind the scenes of the world's most secretive business. Take a tour of a Provençal truffle plantation, learn how truffles are cultivated and truffle dogs are trained, and go on a hunt for France's elusive "black gold" with professional hunters who know all the tricks of the trade. You'll be regaled with stories of successes and sabotage, and learn to tell the difference between the different types of French truffles and the "fakes" from China. Tours are followed up with a sampling of fresh truffle hors d'oeuvres, Champagne and a tasting of our Les Pastras olive and truffle oil. A real treat! Truffle Hunting Tour: Truffle hunt, truffle hors d'oeuvres, Champagne, olive and truffle oil tasting: 70€ per person (winter), 60€ per person (summer). Minimum of 2 people. Weekend tours at flexible hours, weekday tours at 6pm (summer) or 4pm (winter). Please book at least one week in advance. Summer season: May 1 - September 30* Winter season: November 15 - March 15* * Weather permitting 50% of the profits from Les Pastras products go to the One Family orphanage in Haiti
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- Annalise Kraus10 contributionsUnique Provence ExcursionThis truffle hunt was a surprise birthday gift and it did not disappoint. Johann was very professional and communicative leading up to our appointment, and upon our arrival, we felt very welcome. This was a unique experience which gave us an opportunity to learn all about truffles and the art of the profession. It was especially fun to actively search for them with the help of the adorable truffle-hunting dogs. In the evening, we had a lovely time trying different truffle dishes and other local products from the property. This excursion was the perfect day trip for us from Marseille and a highlight of our trip to the Provence.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 February 2024
- Tanya AKosi Bay, South Africa8 contributionsTerrific truffle tripA fantastic and fun experience with Johann and the truffle dogs. Johann's knowledge, good humour and honesty about his experiences add flair and authenticity to the visit, and we had great fun hunting truffles in the rain with the other guests. The tasting experience and champagne were fantastic too, and we certainly rate this as one of our best foodie experiences to date.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 March 2024
- Leslie T9 contributionsDo not miss this experienceThis experience was the highlight of a wonderful trip. Johann is a master at educating on truffles in the most entertaining way. After gaining an understanding of truffle farming we went to the field with the dogs and I, who am not comfortable around dogs, was so engaged in their hunting efforts that I couldn't help but fall in love. After the hunt came the piece d'resistance i-- the post-hunt truffle tasting (more like a meal) with the best champagne we had all week. This experience is not to be missedVisited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 April 2024
- Dandu2003Fairbanks, Alaska87 contributionsI had no idea I needed this day so much - The BestI have been a "truffle Nut" for so many years, I do not even remember when I had my first taste. The taste is not for everyone and you have to be lucky to get them as fresh as posisble. Here you get the freshest one I have ever had AND the experience how they grow, found, and prepared by Johann is simply priceless. His knowledge shared with a delicouos hint of humor paired with insights I did not know I needed. I cannot recommend his tour and experience enough. If you can't go, order his products online.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 April 2024
- Shannon W1 contributionJust sign up-- you'll be happy you did!This was a great tour! The dogs were adorable and Johann was very funny! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is even remotely interested in truffles. The truffle tasting and champagne afterwards were an added bonus!Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 July 2024
- Laura F10 contributionsUnforgettable!My daughter and I had the best time with Johann, Jean-Luc and the cutest truffle hunters around (Eclair, Caramel and Mirabelle). Johann was as funny as he was knowledgeable and the hunt itself was exciting and fun! Equally enjoying was the after-hunt when we all got to sip Champagne, taste delicious truffles in many different ways, and get to know Johann and the other guests a little better. The evening exceeed my expectations tenfold.Visited July 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 16 July 2024
- Scott W1 contributionAmazing truffle hunting experienceLes Pastras was the highlight of our trip to Provence. For any interested in gourmet cuisine and/or more specifically truffles, this tour is a must. Johann was an incredible host - welcoming, knowledgeable, and hilarious. We learned a ton about truffles and enjoyed watching the dogs in action as they dug up a few truffles. Would definitely return in the winter when the black truffles are in season.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 23 July 2024
- Katrin Dörte GBerlin, Germany33 contributionsEnticing and exciting!We were unsure what to expect when we followed our GPS to Les Patras. "Truffle hunt" sounded enticing and exciting at the same time. What we got was three hours of pure fun: An intense introduction to truffles - how to grow them, which soil, humidity, temperature, how long it takes before your first success, how to find them and how to train the dogs, to help you find them. Then we moved into the field, greeted the dogs and watched them do their nose work. Amazing! Finally, we moved back to the house and had about an hour of fine truffle dining...including open bar Champagne and many small dishes of different truffle presentations. This was accompanied by more information on how to find out if a restaurant serves you old or fake truffles. Johann is the born entertainer; we enjoyed his mix of many instructive facts and funny stories. We had a wonderful time with him and the other guests. Highly recommendable! This was the summer truffle hunt - may come back for the black winter truffle hunt :-)Visited September 2024Travelled with familyWritten 14 October 2024
- Tamar Y1 contributionThe highlight of our tripWe have a second home in Provence, and so go there once or twice a year - so as people who know the area and its activities well, we can say this is one of the best. It was super interesting and fun, and delicious. Our 11 year old loved it too - definitely the highlight of our last trip.Visited October 2024Travelled with familyWritten 18 November 2024
- Aditi M19 contributionsFantastic experience during a vacation to FranceIf you’re considering a truffle hunting tour, look no further—this was hands down one of the best experiences of our trip to France! The entire tour was impeccably executed, from start to finish, making it enjoyable, educational, and unforgettable. The Host: Our guide was not only fluent in English but spoke it so perfectly that it was effortless to follow along. Beyond their language skills, they were incredibly gracious, making sure everyone in the group felt welcome. I have dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian), and the host went above and beyond to accommodate these. It’s worth mentioning any restrictions in advance—they were meticulous in preparing options that catered to all needs. The Experience: The day began with an engaging introduction to the history and culture of truffles. We learned fascinating facts about how these culinary treasures are grown, harvested, and prized. The guide had a fantastic sense of humor, keeping everyone entertained with witty anecdotes while diving deep into the world of truffles. Then came the main event: the live truffle hunt with their expertly trained dogs! Watching the dogs work was both thrilling and endearing, as they sniffed out truffles with incredible precision. The guide explained every step of the process, allowing us to participate and feel like true hunters ourselves. Practical Takeaways: One unexpected bonus was the insider knowledge we gained about truffle products. The guide shared tips on what to look for—and what to avoid—when purchasing truffle oils, salts, and other items. This alone will save us from making costly mistakes in the future! Final Thoughts: This tour combines history, humor, hands-on activity, and culinary expertise, making it a perfect outing for anyone with an appreciation for food or a love of unique experiences. Whether you’re a truffle novice or a seasoned enthusiast, this adventure will leave you with a newfound respect for these treasures of the earth. Highly, highly recommend!Visited December 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 31 December 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Auds19
14 contributions
Dec 2021 • Friends
Johann was very accommodating and ran the truffle hunting tour for us even though we were a party of two and there were no other groups for the day.
Reservations were super easy to make via email, and were followed up on by Les Pastras the day before via both text and email to confirm that the tour would be going ahead.
The place was not difficult to find with Google Maps.
Johann was very entertaining which made the entire tour educational, enlightening and very memorable. At the end of the tour we got to eat lots of truffles!
Finally, shoutout to the 3 best doggos (Mirabelle, Caramel and Eclair!) for finding many truffles that day 😊.
Am now considering going back for Olive and/or Wine season to try and the other tours (hopefully travel stays open), and would definitely recommend the Les Pastras experience to friends. 👍🏼
Reservations were super easy to make via email, and were followed up on by Les Pastras the day before via both text and email to confirm that the tour would be going ahead.
The place was not difficult to find with Google Maps.
Johann was very entertaining which made the entire tour educational, enlightening and very memorable. At the end of the tour we got to eat lots of truffles!
Finally, shoutout to the 3 best doggos (Mirabelle, Caramel and Eclair!) for finding many truffles that day 😊.
Am now considering going back for Olive and/or Wine season to try and the other tours (hopefully travel stays open), and would definitely recommend the Les Pastras experience to friends. 👍🏼
Written 24 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pedsptcmf
Newtown, PA43 contributions
Apr 2022 • Solo
This was a great experience on a beautiful evening -out in the Provençal countryside. We sat in the evening sun while Johan taught us all about truffles and the work it takes to grow truffles and how they hunt for them. It takes at least 10 years. No wonder they are such an expensive delicacy! We got to meet the sweet and energetic dogs who worked so hard and found us 5 summer truffles under the careful guidance of their handler! Our photo all together made us feel part of the team. Then we watched the sunset and Johan served us wonderful appetizers made with truffles, truffle oil and truffle honey accompanied by champagne. They were happy to accommodate my lactose intolerance and Johan made the tasting very relaxing and unhurried. I learned that you never heat a truffle when you prepare food with them, otherwise you lose their flavor, instead you shave or add them at the end or use them to infuse cream, oil or cheese. I am looking forward to using my Les Pastras truffle
OiI and honey. The journey back to Aix, in the dark and around windy lanes was a little intimidating, but on reflection it was an experience that should not be missed, when visiting this region.
OiI and honey. The journey back to Aix, in the dark and around windy lanes was a little intimidating, but on reflection it was an experience that should not be missed, when visiting this region.
Written 14 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy K
Redmond, WA38 contributions
Dec 2019
Johann was our host for the morning of Christmas Eve. We had an international group for a hunt, tour, and tasting in English. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed and engaged. We started in the orchard (truffle orchard, yes?) where Johann explained the history, botany, agriculture, cuisine, and business of truffles. He was interactive and engaging enough to keep some teens involved, yet he was informative enough to keep the adults engaged. When the truffle-hunter arrived with the dogs, we went for a walk. All along the way, Johann explained what the dogs were doing, what the truffle-hunter was looking for, and he even got some of us on our hands and knees to dig the truffles. At the end of the hunt it was photo time with the guides, both canine and human. Then we went to the porch where we began the cuisine portion of our tour. Again, Johann was a flood of information, presented in a way that involved both the teens and the adults. This will become a regular visit when we are near Provence.
This is an outdoor experience. Dress for the weather. We had sturdy shoes and warm layers for winter weather. We got a sunny day in late December with no rain and mild breezes, but plan ahead to be outdoors and in fields.
I acknowledge that this is not a cheap outing in absolute terms but I clicked "budget friendly" because you simply will not experience truffles and cremant (champagne) like this anywhere else for anything close to the price.
This is an outdoor experience. Dress for the weather. We had sturdy shoes and warm layers for winter weather. We got a sunny day in late December with no rain and mild breezes, but plan ahead to be outdoors and in fields.
I acknowledge that this is not a cheap outing in absolute terms but I clicked "budget friendly" because you simply will not experience truffles and cremant (champagne) like this anywhere else for anything close to the price.
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carpies2
Linz, Austria21 contributions
Jun 2022
Visiting Les Pastras in late June, with another couple, was the highlight of our 3 week holiday in France.
Johann gave us the most informative and interesting overview of the truffle industry – including the science, harvesting and marketing. We watched as his well trained dogs, led by Jean-Marc, found many truffles.
After our truffle hunt, Johann treated us to the most delicious truffles with cheese, champagne and organic honey infused truffle ice cream on his outdoor patio.
Booking the tour was very easy and Johann sent emails, prior to our visit, to ensure we had the proper directions. Note: Allow an additional 30 minutes travel time to make certain you arrive on time.
Johann gave us the most informative and interesting overview of the truffle industry – including the science, harvesting and marketing. We watched as his well trained dogs, led by Jean-Marc, found many truffles.
After our truffle hunt, Johann treated us to the most delicious truffles with cheese, champagne and organic honey infused truffle ice cream on his outdoor patio.
Booking the tour was very easy and Johann sent emails, prior to our visit, to ensure we had the proper directions. Note: Allow an additional 30 minutes travel time to make certain you arrive on time.
Written 19 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom Wilkinson
West Palm Beach, FL8 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
I have travelled far and wide working in the travel industry, spending countless days on all sorts of tours (group and private) but the truffle hunting at Les Pastras is hands down THE best "tour" experience of my life. Johann is a master of his craft and his passion for truffles is contagious. The experience on his farm was beyond outstanding and I cannot thank him enough for sharing his knowledge of truffles and his actual truffles (as well as his champagne!). The perfect day in Provence!
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happiness823402
7 contributions
Jun 2022
We visited Les Pastras at the end of June and we had a fantastic day. Communication was great, from the start, as were the directions on how to find this truffle farm. To begin, Johann explained about how to spot where truffles grew and how the dogs are trained to detect them - all very interesting and Johann is a very good storey teller. We were introduced to the dogs and once formalities were over, they got down to the serious business of truffle hunting. They found several even though we didn't walk too far. The funniest thing was that the dogs made it clear when the hunt was over by laying down.
This isn't just a truffle farm, olive oil and honey are for sale, including export. You can even adopt a truffle oak tree or olive tree.
After the hunt we went to a fabulous outdoor kitchen for champagne and a range of truffle canapes which were delicious. We even had truffle ice cream! With even more truffle stories we didn't want to leave.
We highly recommend this trip and are keen to go back for the winter truffle season.
Bring a hat and water with you as it can be very hot.
This isn't just a truffle farm, olive oil and honey are for sale, including export. You can even adopt a truffle oak tree or olive tree.
After the hunt we went to a fabulous outdoor kitchen for champagne and a range of truffle canapes which were delicious. We even had truffle ice cream! With even more truffle stories we didn't want to leave.
We highly recommend this trip and are keen to go back for the winter truffle season.
Bring a hat and water with you as it can be very hot.
Written 4 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jigregor
Dublin, OH185 contributions
Jul 2021
This was the surprise highlight of our week in Provence! It's what we still talk about and share with others the most - all we learned about the fascinating science, training and preparation that goes into growing and funding truffles! This is an entertaining mini-master class in the world of truffles - Johann is an engaging subject matter expert and story teller. After the knowledge you'll go out on a real world truffle hunt with specially trained dogs (adorable) and together find a harvest some truffles. Return to Johann's property on the farm to enjoy truffle based tapas, champagne and off the hook truffle ice cream with home made honey. And some more conversations and stories of course. From kids to grand parents, this would make a delightful experience. My wife doesn't care too much for truffles, but she loved the lighter summer truffles and she's the one telling our kids and friends all about this experience. Thanks Johann, it was a true pleasure!
Written 31 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maureen B C
1 contribution
Sept 2022
We spent a wonderful week in Provence with friends and this tour was one of the highlights! Johann knows his truffles. His interesting and informative tour gave us the confidence to purchase, cook with and consume truffles like a pro. We would highly recommend this tour!
Written 2 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shreya J
2 contributions
Dec 2019
My friend and I were in Marseille and we didn't pre-book our truffle hunt. We were given the slot the next day but after sharing our travel details with Johann - he was extremely kind to accommodate us on 30th December 2019. That being said, the hunt was extremely amazing and everything greater than what we had expected.
The Champagne was amazing and do not even get me started with the truffles we ate. As for my title that says "Life will never be the same", yes because I am a huge truffle fan and after learning more about it - regular restaurant synthetic truffles won't suffice my craving. Haha! All in all, we had an incredible experience.
Johann was amazing with his explanations and was very kind to offer us blankets and answer all the questions we had even apart from the Truffles about his farm. The entire session was in English. Usually each session is supposed to last for 3 hours but because the cute dogs were a little distracted in the beginning our session lasted more than that, which was great too. Johann wanted nothing but for us to enjoy every moment of it. Thank you so much!!
Bestest wishes to the Pepin Family!
The Champagne was amazing and do not even get me started with the truffles we ate. As for my title that says "Life will never be the same", yes because I am a huge truffle fan and after learning more about it - regular restaurant synthetic truffles won't suffice my craving. Haha! All in all, we had an incredible experience.
Johann was amazing with his explanations and was very kind to offer us blankets and answer all the questions we had even apart from the Truffles about his farm. The entire session was in English. Usually each session is supposed to last for 3 hours but because the cute dogs were a little distracted in the beginning our session lasted more than that, which was great too. Johann wanted nothing but for us to enjoy every moment of it. Thank you so much!!
Bestest wishes to the Pepin Family!
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eugene S
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States6 contributions
May 2022
Amazing! It was a great blend of education, actually going out there to find truffles, and a culinary experience. Before this trip, my partner wasn't a fan of truffles but that's because we haven't had them fresh before. Now we know exactly what to look for and it opened our eyes to how versatile truffles can be. We also appreciated that he accommodated us and made sure we felt comfortable. Highly recommend!
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour,
Est-ce qu’on pourrait venir lundi 31 mai après-midi s’il vous plaît ?
Merci pour votre réponse.
Bien cordialement
Caroline.
Written 28 May 2021
Zijn de rondleiding enkel in groep of kan dat individueel? In welke talen zijn de rondleidingen mogelijk?
Written 17 June 2019
Dear Ghislaine,
Thank you for your questions. Our truffle hunting experience is only in English. The minimum number of guests is 2. If you are a solo traveler you can join a tour with other visitors. We also other private tours, if possible, but please contact us by email for more information.
Kind regards,
Johann
Written 19 June 2019
Hi, I dropped an email earlier inquiring about having a truffle tour on Aug 06 afternoon for four people. Kindly let me know if that can be possibly arranged. Thanks!
Written 2 August 2018
Not sure why but questions for Les Pastras seem to be coming to me. Better to go to the website and inquire there.
Written 3 August 2018
Hello I have written in to your website asking to book a tour but nobody replies to me. I am interested in booking a tour on 11th Jul for 2 pax. Please advise if that's possible?
Written 8 July 2018
Dear Alice, sorry about that. Our website has been experiencing technical difficulties. We could host ou on July 11th at 10am. Please contact us directly at pepin @ les pastras . com Thank you
Kind regards,
Johann Pepin
Written 10 July 2018
Hi, we have tried to book via mail - but without luck. How to book?
Written 5 July 2018
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in truffle hunting at Les Pastras. Please let us know if you didn't receive our emails. When will you be in our area so we can check availabilities? Sorry about the delay.
Kind regards,
Johann Pepin
Written 7 July 2018
niloykaria
London, United Kingdom
Hi. Nice reviews. We will be in your area July 16-24th 2018.
Will be able to do some truffle hunting ?
Dr K.
Written 27 June 2018
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in truffle hunting at Les Pastras. Yes we will hunting for summer truffles (tuber aestivum). We have availabilities during your stay in Provence. Please contact us by email at pepin @ les pastras . com
Thank you
Kind regards
Written 30 June 2018
yiye11
Singapore, Singapore
Hi, we will be travelling to Provence during Sept 21-28 . Do you have grape stomping and truffle hunting tours during this period ? Possibly total 4 persons
Written 20 June 2018
Hello, Thank you for your interest in our activities. We could host you for a truffle hunt on September 21st & 27th. For a grape stomp we have availabilities on September 26th and 28th. Feel free to contact us by email if you have any other questions.
Kind regards,
Written 21 June 2018
Is late June a suitable month for truffle hunting?
Written 8 May 2018
Thank you for your question. In late June we will be hunting fresh summer truffles (tuber aestivum). Feel free to ask us any questions, we are at your service.
Written 9 May 2018
Will there be available truffle hunting and grape stomping during the time of Sept. 10-15, 2018? What are the required reservations and deposits? Merci beaucoup!
Written 25 April 2018
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in our activities. Yes we will have truffle hunting and grape stomping tours available from September 10th to the 14th. To book please contact us by email at pepin at lespastras . com
Kind regards,
Johann Pepin
Written 26 April 2018
rsbender
Morristown, New Jersey
Hi, rsbender. What would you like to know about this attraction?
What are the details please. Cost, time of day the truffle hunts begin and end? Merci boucoup.
Written 1 April 2018
Dear rsbender,
Thank you for your interest in truffle hunting at Les Pastras. Here is a short description of our activity:
Our truffle hunts are only on weekdays. The tour last at least 3 hours. First you will learn, only in English, how truffles are growing, how to farm them, and hunt them. Then we will go with two dogs on the search of the precious tuber. After we have found some, hopefully, you will discover the rest of our property with wild herbs, vineyards, olive groves and beehives. We return to our outdoor kitchen, to eat three different hors d'oeuvre with truffles, truffle ice cream with truffle honey, tasting of our organic extra-virgin olive oil, truffle oil and truffle salt, with all you care to drink Champagne. During the tasting you will learn how to buy truffles and truffles products, clean them, store them and prepare them. The cost is 70 euros per adult and 50 euros for kids (10 to 17).
In the summer usually are tours start at 6pm. Please let us know when you will be in our region so we can give you our availabilities (days & time).
Feel free to ask us any questions, we are at your service.
Kind regards,
Johann Pepin
Written 2 April 2018
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