Private Truffle Hunt in Piedmont or Tuscany

A private day in the truffle woods of Piedmont or Tuscany with a licensed hunter and his dog, followed by a tasting of truffle and local wine. We collect you at your hotel or villa.

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How the hunt works ↓

Duration

1 day

Where

Langhe (Alba) or Chianti

Private, from

€180 pp

Starts / ends

Your hotel or villa

Dates

Flexible, all year

Recommended age

18+

The most honest morning in Italy

A truffle hunt is the most honest morning you can spend in Italy. You walk through the woods behind a licensed hunter and a dog that has trained for years for this one job, and nobody knows what the ground will give. I offer it in two places: the oak and chestnut woods around Alba in Piedmont, home of the most famous white truffle in the world, and the woods of the Chianti in Tuscany, a short drive from Florence.

The hunt is private to your party. The hunter shows you how the dog reads the ground, how he digs with a small spade without harming the soil, and how to tell a ripe truffle by its scent. Afterwards we sit down to a tasting where the truffle meets the wines of the region.

It fits into any trip in either region, and we can add a long lunch, a winery or a cooking class.

“A truffle hunt is the most honest morning you can spend in Italy.”

Moreno Moretti · Founder of Italy Charme

A basket of truffles with a bottle of wine — Truffle and the wines of the region.

Piedmont or Tuscany: where should you hunt?

Choose Piedmont if the white truffle is the reason for your trip. The woods around Alba, in the Langhe hills, produce the most famous white truffle in the world. In autumn you can pair the hunt with the International White Truffle Fair of Alba and with a glass of Barolo or Barbaresco at lunch.

Choose Tuscany if you are based in Florence or the Chianti. The hunt takes place in the woods of the Chianti, between the vineyards, and fits easily into a day out from Florence. In November the town of San Miniato holds its own white truffle fair.

Vineyards of the Langhe hills near Barolo at sunset

White truffle, Barolo and BarbarescoPiedmont · Alba, LangheOak and chestnut woods around Alba. In 2026 the Alba fair runs on weekends from 10 October to 6 December. Airports: Turin, Milan.

Based in Florence or the ChiantiTuscany · ChiantiWoods between the Chianti vineyards, a short drive from Florence. In 2026 San Miniato holds its fair on 14 and 15, 21 and 22, 28 and 29 November.

A country road between oak trees and green hills in Le Marche

A private day out · from €140 ppLe Marche · truffle huntingA private hunt in southern Le Marche with a licensed hunter and his dogs, then handmade tagliatelle with truffle at the farm. View the experience →

	Piedmont (Alba, Langhe)	Tuscany (Chianti)
Best for	White truffle lovers, Barolo and Barbaresco	Travelers based in Florence or the Chianti
Woods	Oak and chestnut groves around Alba	Chianti woods between the vineyards
Fair nearby in 2026	Alba, weekends 10 October to 6 December	San Miniato, weekends in November
Nearest airports	Turin, Milan	Florence, Pisa

How does the truffle hunt work?

1 · Meet the hunter and his dog

We collect you at your hotel or villa and drive to the woods: the oak and chestnut groves around Alba, or the Chianti woods between the vineyards.

2 · Walk at the dog’s pace

The dog searches, stops and scratches the ground when it finds a scent.

3 · Watch the dig

The hunter finishes the work with a small spade called a vanghetto, only where the dog started, as Italian law requires.

4 · Learn to read a truffle

Species, ripeness, scent and why the season matters.

5 · Taste the truffle with local wines

We sit down to a tasting where the truffle meets the wines of the region.

Nothing is planted for visitors. Some mornings are generous, some are not, and that is the honesty of it. The tasting at the end happens either way.

Hand digging a truffle from the soil among ivy leaves

What’s included

Included

The hunt

A private truffle hunt with a licensed hunter and his trained dog.

Included

The tasting

Truffle tasting paired with wines of the region.

Included

Transport & planning

Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or villa, and the planning of the day by Italy Charme.

Not included

Extras

Truffles you decide to buy, meals not listed, gratuities and personal expenses.

Make it a full day

On request, we add any of these to your truffle day.

Fresh egg tagliatelle with eggs and flour on a wooden board

In a trattoria or at a wineryLunch with truffle

Barolo, Barbaresco or Chianti ClassicoA winery visit

Learn to cook with the truffleTruffle cooking class

White truffles on display at the Alba truffle market

In season · weekends in autumnThe Alba truffle fair

When can you go truffle hunting?

The white truffle is the autumn truffle, from October into December, and those are the most sought after weeks of the year, so book early. The rest of the year the hunt goes on for other species: the black winter truffle from December to March and the summer truffle from late spring through the summer. Each region sets its own legal dates, so we always plan the hunt around the season and the species. For the full calendar, see my guide on where to go truffle hunting in Italy.

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peter intermaggio

19:24 24 Sep 25

I have just completed a 14 day trip in Sicily visiting ancestral towns, all arranged by ItalyCharme. The trip was outstanding, with amazing experiences and thoughtful, knowledgeable guides at each location. The level of support from ItalyCharme was top notch. Will definitely use ItalyCharme again. Outstanding.

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13:37 02 Sep 25

We are in the final stages of planning our dream vacation to Pulia -Moreno and Alessandra have been wonderfull so far looking forward to our trip in October...they are very prompt and attentive to our needs

Laura Carmine

18:41 26 Jul 19

My experience with this travel agent was superb! Our agent and his team exceeded my expectations. Communication was prompt and responsive and every detail was well thought out and organized. Being new to Italy, we really appreciated our travel agent's insight and suggestions as he helped us tweak our itinerary to exactly what we wanted. He took into account things that weren't immediately obvious to us, like weather, traffic conditions, and local business operations during the holiday month for most Italians.
I really loved that the only thing I had to worry about was buying our plane tickets. Literally, our travel agent and this company took care of every detail afterwards. We just hopped on the flight to Italy and were met every step of the way by friendly and knowledgeable people at every transfer, connection, and tour.
I would gladly work with this company again in the future and have already strongly recommended them to my colleagues.

Julija Kryziute

14:21 26 Jul 19

I love this company. They responded immediately to any questions or needs while we were preparing for the trip and while we were on the trip too! I can’t tell enough about their attention to detail and fabulous tours they set up for us! They are amazing! 🙂

Iulia

08:43 24 Jul 19

We had a wonderful family vacation in Venice, Tuscan countryside, and Florence. They did a great job organizing our transportation, hotels, and a number of activities. The transportation help really cut down on stressful travel days and allowed us to relax. Our trip planner was very responsive and helpful over the whole course of our vacation. Can’t wait to go back!

paula dipietro

00:55 22 Jul 19

We had an amazing vacation in Italy 🇮🇹 and the Italy charm team arranged everything for us to have the most amazing time in central Italy.
They really exceeded our expectations. From the most beautiful charming B&B to the excursions, to the rustic restaurants, to the mom and pops local bars( breakfast -cappuccino and cornettò)
All the drivers and guides were super friendly and enabling us to have a great time.
We strongly recommends to use this local Agency to organize your next trip ! 🇮🇹

Lori King

12:10 20 Jul 19

Moreno and his team put together a wonderful and luxurious experience for me. It was arranged including small details and fun surprises, like they knew me personally. It was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget. He made my first trip to Italy a perfect experience and I knew it would not be my last trip. I have told my friends and associates, Italy Charme is the way to truly feel Italy.

Egle Aleksandraviciute

10:42 16 Jul 19

Had an amazing vacation and Italy Charme team made everyting for us to have the most amazing 2 weeks in south of Italy (Amalfi coast and Puglia). Would definitely recommend their services, from exquisite and unique hotel bookings, transfers to day experiences.

Barbara Rumi

02:09 29 Dec 17

ItalyCharme created the itinerary for my first holiday trip to Italy, last month. They really exceeded my expectations!! The hotels were all great, the (private) excursions were excellently organized and provided authentic experiences of the most beautiful corners of Italy. Exactly where we were looking for. All drivers and guides were super friendly and enabling us to enjoy fully our trips. I recommend everyone to use this local agency to organize your Italy trip. By the way, they are located in Italy, and the owner is always available for any questions.

Questions about the truffle hunt

How long does the truffle hunt last?

It is a full day out, with pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or villa. The walk in the woods usually lasts two to three hours, followed by the tasting.

Is the truffle hunt private?

Yes. The hunter, the dog and the day are for your party only.

Will we find a truffle?

Usually, but never certainly. The hunt is real and nothing is planted in advance. The tasting at the end does not depend on the morning’s luck.

Can children join?

Yes. The walk is easy and children are often the most excited people in the woods. Tell us their ages and we plan the pace around them.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes or boots that can get muddy, layers for a cool morning and a waterproof jacket in autumn. The woods are damp in truffle season.

Do Italian truffle hunters use dogs or pigs?

Dogs. Italian law requires the search to be carried out with a trained dog, which rules out pigs. The classic truffle dog is the Lagotto Romagnolo, although many hunters work with mixed breeds they have trained themselves.

Prefer to talk?

Speak with a travel designer

USA: 1-800-413-9647

info@italycharme.com

Request this experience

Plan your truffle trip

The bell tower and dome of Urbino Cathedral

Tour · 5 days from BolognaGourmet Le Marche & Truffle HuntingHunt near Acqualagna, stay in Urbino. From €1,900 pp.

Truffle hunter resting with his dog in the woods

GuideWhere to go truffle hunting in ItalyLe Marche, Piedmont, Tuscany and Umbria, side by side.

A truffle hunter in an oak wood with two truffle dogs

GuideAcqualagna and the white truffle of Le MarcheThe fair dates, the season and what truffle costs, from a local.

Your day in the truffle woods

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Private Truffle Hunting in Piedmont or Tuscany

Experience overview

The most honest morning in Italy

Piedmont or Tuscany: where should you hunt?