Truffle hunting in Cagli, Le Marche: Hunt with a dog

A morning in the forest following a dog's nose to buried treasure.

A private truffle hunting experience in Cagli, Le Marche, where you walk the rolling hills with a trained dog and guide to search for black truffles beneath ancient trees, then return for a breakfast of fresh pasta topped with your find and local wine. The hunt takes 2 to 2.5 hours and suits families with children from age 4 onward. A guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, German and one additional language. Coffee and tea are included before the hunt and breakfast after.

The experience

You start at a local bar in Acqualagna (either Bar Area 51 or Café del Ponte), where Stefan, your truffle hunter, explains what to expect and how the dog works. After coffee or tea and a briefing on what makes the hunt possible, you drive to one of the nearby forest sites (the exact location changes with the season and conditions). The walk itself is a moderate workout through the Marche landscape, following the dog as it works the ground with its nose, stopping when it signals a find beneath the soil.

The hunt runs 2 to 2.5 hours. Stefan digs carefully around the dog's alert, extracting the black truffle from the earth. What you find, if the day yields well, becomes the centerpiece of what comes next. Back at the bar, you sit down to a simple breakfast: fresh, artisanal pasta with your truffle shaved over it, a glass of local wine, and the stories of the morning. The meal is included. If you want to extend the day with a truffle lunch or dinner, you can arrange that separately.

The experience can also stretch into a longer stay (two, three or five days), and Stefan can arrange a visit to Bernardini Tartufi, a local producer, to see how truffles become sauces, butters and other products. Private transportation is available as an option at checkout. Children from age 4 are welcome, and infants can come in a pram or stroller.

What’s included

• Coffee and tea before the hunt.
• breakfast after the hunt with fresh pasta and truffle shavings.
• a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, German and one additional language.
• the walk through the forest with the trained dog and truffle hunter.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private truffle hunt in Cagli, Le MarcheGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeCoffee, tea, soft drinks and water, plus a small breakfast

Truffle lunchGuide in 5 languages · No fixed timeTruffle lunch with wine: after a pleasant walk through our beautiful nature, we serve a great lunch made with freshly found truffles, wine included.

Truffle hunt & truffle dinnerGuide in 5 languages · No fixed timeTruffle dinner: once the truffle hunt is over, you can rest, and in the evening we gather at our marvelous location for a truffle dinner with wine included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (21 to 66 years) · Senior (67 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 18 years) · Child (8 to 11 years) · Infant (4 to 7 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Le Marche Experience From Ground To Plate

Is this one for you?Choose this experience if you want to move through the forest and actively participate in the hunt rather than watch a demonstration: the dog's work and the dig are what make the morning memorable, and the breakfast turns what you find into a meal you helped unearth.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 18 years); Child (8 to 11 years); Infant (4 to 7 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How does the dog find truffles buried under the ground?

The dog is trained to smell the truffle beneath the soil and signals when it has located one. Stefan watches for the dog's behavior (a dig, a pause, a specific alert), and then carefully excavates the truffle by hand, working around the roots to extract it intact.

What happens if we don't find any truffles during the hunt?

The hunt is about the experience of searching the forest and learning how truffle hunting works, so the walk and the breakfast are included either way. Finding truffles depends on the season, soil conditions and the dog's luck on the day, but Stefan knows the forest well and adjusts the route based on what is most likely to yield results.

What is included in the breakfast after the hunt?

Breakfast includes fresh, artisanal pasta topped with truffle shavings from your find (or from Stefan's supply if the hunt yields nothing), a glass of local wine, and coffee or tea. If you want to add a full lunch or dinner with truffle dishes, you can arrange that as a separate option.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the meeting point?

You meet Stefan at Bar Area 51 in Acqualagna or Café del Ponte in Abbadia di Naro. From there, Stefan drives you to the truffle hunting site. Private transportation to and from your accommodation is available as an optional add-on at checkout.