Truffle Hunting in Siena with Dogs and Tasting: 25-year expert guide

You extract the truffle yourself once the dogs find it

Hunt for truffles in the Siena countryside with Alessandro, a truffle hunter of 25 years, and his three trained dogs: a pair of Lagotto Romagnolos and a black Labrador. You walk the land for about an hour and twenty minutes, watch the dogs work, learn how to dig and extract truffles from the ground, then taste truffle products at Alessandro's shop. The experience runs year-round with seasonal varieties.

The experience

Alessandro brings you out with one of his dogs and an assistant to search the Siena hills for truffles. When a dog starts digging, you move in close and Alessandro teaches you the technique to extract the truffle without damage. The walk lasts about an hour and twenty minutes, and he answers questions about the hunt, the dogs, and what you're finding as you go. The dogs do the locating. You do the digging. That's the core of it.

After the hunt, you head to Alessandro's shop to taste truffle products: truffle sauce with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, olives, mushrooms, chickpeas, pecorino, truffle oil, balsamic vinegar, truffle salami and more. The tasting shows you what the truffles become once they leave the ground. Seasonal varieties change throughout the year, so what you hunt and taste shifts with the calendar.

Public transportation reaches the area, so you don't need a car to get there. Alessandro speaks English and Italian. Children are welcome from age 2, though the walk itself demands at least a moderate level of fitness. The terrain and the pace are not casual.

What’s included

• Spade and tools for truffle extraction.
• guidance from Alessandro and his assistant throughout the hunt.
• truffle tasting at his shop featuring truffle sauce, cheese, olives, mushrooms, chickpeas, truffle oil, balsamic vinegar, and truffle salami.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 15 Jan 2027

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (16 to 69 years) · Senior (70 to 75 years) · Youth (9 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 8 years)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Italian

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Siena Tartufi

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to do the work yourself. You're not watching a demonstration, you're learning to dig and extract. The moderate fitness level the walk demands means you're comfortable on uneven terrain for an hour and a half. If you prefer a gentler pace or have mobility concerns, this particular hunt isn't the fit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 15 years); Child (2 to 8 years).

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.

What do the three dogs actually do during the hunt?

Moka and Freddie are Lagotto Romagnolos, and Pepita is a black Labrador: all trained to locate truffles underground by scent. They dig to signal where a truffle is buried, and then you move in to extract it by hand with the tools Alessandro provides.

How long does the whole experience take?

The hunt and walk last about an hour and twenty minutes, then you move to the shop for the truffle tasting. Plan for roughly two hours total.

What truffles will I find if I go in winter versus summer?

Different truffle varieties grow in different seasons throughout the year. Alessandro hunts whatever is in season when you visit, so the type you find and taste depends on the time of year you book.

Do I need any experience to extract a truffle, or will Alessandro teach me?

Alessandro teaches you the extraction technique on the spot once a dog finds a truffle. No prior experience is needed. He shows you how to dig and remove it safely from the ground.

Can I get to the hunting area without a car?

Public transportation options are available nearby, so you can reach the meeting point without driving yourself.