Truffle Hunting in Tuscany: Hunt and Taste with a Dog

A truffle dog finds what you cannot see underground.

Hunt for fresh truffles in the Livorno hills near Nugola, Tuscany, guided by a certified truffle grower and his trained Lagotto Romagnolo dog. You'll spend about an hour and a half searching through a private truffle grove, then taste the truffles you find alongside local wines, cheeses, honey, cold cuts and olive oil, all served among the hazelnut and hornbeam trees with views of the Tuscan hills. A live Italian-speaking guide leads the experience. Moderate physical fitness is needed for the hunt.

The experience

The hunt starts in a private truffle grove in Nugola, where the grower and his dog Hazelnut lead you through the hazelnut and hornbeam rows. The dog works by scent, stopping when it finds a truffle buried underground. You dig carefully to extract it. About an hour and a half of searching means you move at the pace the dog sets, stopping when Hazelnut catches a scent and moving on when the ground yields nothing. The silence of the grove is the real backdrop here: no crowds, no scheduled stops, just the work of finding.

After the hunt, you move to a tasting area still among the trees, where the freshly harvested truffles you found are paired with a chopping board of local products: cold cuts, organic cheeses, honey, tree hazelnuts, local wines and olive oil. Everything is combined with the truffles themselves, so you taste them the way they're meant to be eaten: shaved over cheese, stirred into oil, paired with wine. The view opens onto the typical Tuscan hills, and the tasting happens on the grower's terms, not on a tour schedule.

The experience runs about three hours total. Wear clothes you don't mind getting soil on, and bring sturdy shoes for uneven ground. Public transportation options are available nearby if you're coming from a larger town. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the hunt. The guide speaks Italian.

What’s included

• Truffle hunting in a private grove with a certified grower and his trained Lagotto Romagnolo dog.
• tasting of fresh-harvested truffles paired with local wines, cheeses, honey, cold cuts, tree hazelnuts and olive oil.
• live guide in Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:00 and 17:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (under 6): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideItalian

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 yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by La collina del tartufo experience

Is this one for you?This works best for small groups or families who want a hands-on experience rather than a tour. You're actively hunting and digging, not watching from a distance. The fixed pace set by the dog and the three-hour commitment suit travelers with a morning or afternoon free and a moderate comfort with walking uneven ground.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 6): free.

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 truffle dog actually find truffles underground?

The Lagotto Romagnolo hunts by scent, stopping when it detects a truffle buried in the soil. You then dig carefully to extract it. The dog's nose does the real work. Your job is to follow and dig where it signals.

Will I actually find truffles, or is this more about watching the dog work?

You hunt for about an hour and a half, and the truffles you find during that time are the ones you'll taste afterward. Success depends on the season and the grove's yield on that day, but the hunt is a real search, not a demonstration.

What exactly do I taste after the hunt?

The tasting includes cold cuts, organic cheeses, honey, tree hazelnuts, local wines and olive oil, all paired with the fresh truffles you hunted. Everything is served on a chopping board among the hazelnut trees where you just finished searching.

Do I need to be very fit to do this, or is it a casual walk?

Moderate physical fitness is needed because you'll be walking through the grove for about an hour and a half, often on uneven ground, and bending to dig when the dog finds a truffle. It's not strenuous, but it's not a flat, easy stroll either.