Truffle Hunting in San Miniato with Dogs & Tasting

Walk the secret paths with two Lagotti Romagnoli, dig for truffles, learn how they grow, and taste what you find

Truffle hunting in San Miniato is a 2.5-hour activity where you walk woodland paths with Leonardo and his two trained dogs, Aki and Roi, searching for truffles in the soil. You'll learn how truffles form, why certain areas produce them, and what makes their aroma, then taste truffle products with local wine. The guide speaks English or Italian, and pickup is included.

The experience

Two and a half hours starts in the countryside between San Miniato and Montaione, where the soil and climate make these hills one of the world's main truffle collection sites. Leonardo and his Lagotti Romagnoli (the breed trained specifically for truffle work) lead you along the paths where truffles naturally grow. The dogs do the searching. You learn to spot the signs and help extract each truffle from the ground. Adults and children both follow the same work, so there's no watching from the sidelines.

The hunting takes up the first hour to ninety minutes. Along the way, Leonardo explains the whole world around truffles: which plants live in symbiosis with them, how the dogs are trained to find them, why they appear in certain seasons and certain spots, and what gives each truffle its particular aroma. The silence of the woods is the real backdrop: broken only by birdsong and the dogs at work.

After the search, you gather for a tasting of white truffle products: Pecorino with truffle, white truffle honey, white truffle oil and butter, Parmesan and white truffle cream, and more. A glass of local wine comes with it. This is where the secrets of the kitchen open up: how truffles are actually used, what they pair with, why they matter on a Tuscan table.

What’s included

• Tour in the woods in search of truffles with Leonardo and his two trained dogs for 1 to 1.5 hours.
• tasting of white truffle products including Pecorino with truffle, white truffle honey, white truffle oil and butter, Parmesan and white truffle cream.
• glass of local wine with the tasting.
• pickup included.
• live guide in English or Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and SaturdayDepartures at 10:00 and 16:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Truffle hunting con Tuscany Flavour

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Italian, so you follow the hunt and the explanations in your language. This suits anyone who wants to learn the truffle world as they search, not just walk past the trees.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

38 verified traveler reviews

5 ★37

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12): free.

What are the Lagotti Romagnoli, and why do they hunt truffles?

Lagotti Romagnoli are a breed trained specifically to find truffles by scent. Leonardo's two dogs, Aki and Roi, guide the hunt by detecting truffles underground, and you learn their training and behavior as you follow them through the woods.

Will I actually find truffles, or is it just a walk?

The hunt depends on the season and conditions: truffles are naturally born in the San Miniato hills year-round in several varieties, but finding them is not guaranteed. If you do find them, you help extract them from the ground. Either way, you learn how truffles grow and why this area produces them.

What happens if I'm not fit enough to walk the woods for an hour and a half?

The activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The paths are where truffles naturally grow, so they follow the woodland terrain, but the pace is set by the dogs and the search, not by speed or distance.

What should I bring to the truffle hunt?

Bring boots or hiking shoes, sports clothing, and bug spray. The woods are uncontaminated nature, so proper footwear and protection from insects matter for comfort during the search.