Truffle hunting near Siena with wine tasting and Tuscan lunch

A truffle hunter and his dog do the finding. You learn how it works and eat what they uncover.

Hunt truffles in Tuscan woodland with a skilled hunter and his trained dog, then taste wines, oils and vinegars from Poggio ai Laghi before sitting down to a truffle-infused lunch. The experience runs under three hours and includes a guide in English or Italian, all meals and drinks, and the story behind the estate's legend of Donna Ava.

The experience

The hunt itself takes you into serene woodland paths where the truffle hunter works his dog through the soil, showing you the ancient technique that turns a trained nose into a culinary treasure hunt. You're not digging. You're watching the system work, learning what makes a truffle worth finding and how the dog signals a discovery. The woodland part is the core of the morning, and it sets up everything that follows.

After the hunt, you move to a guided tasting of Poggio ai Laghi's wines, oils and vinegars, where the guide weaves in the estate's history and the legend of Donna Ava. This is not a quick pour-and-go. It's a seated tasting that frames what you're about to eat. Then comes the lunch: pecorino flan topped with fresh truffle shavings, tagliolino with truffle, and cantuccini with Vin Santo. The truffle you watched being hunted is on your plate.

The whole arc (hunt, tasting, meal) runs just under three hours, so it fits into a morning or early afternoon without eating the rest of your day. A live guide in English or Italian narrates the hunt and the tasting, so you understand what you're seeing and tasting as it happens. The experience is wheelchair accessible, and infants can come in a pram or stroller.

What’s included

• Truffle hunt with a trained dog and expert hunter.
• guided tasting of Poggio ai Laghi wines, extra virgin olive oils and vinegars.
• Tuscan lunch with truffle-infused dishes and cantuccini.
• live guide in English or Italian.
• all meals and alcoholic beverages.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 16:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 15

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Agricola Poggio ai Laghi

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Italian, so you follow the hunt and the tasting commentary in whichever language suits you. The woodland walk is gentle and accessible to all fitness levels, making this a truffle experience that doesn't require hiking boots or stamina.

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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: Child (5 to 17 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How does the truffle dog actually find truffles in the ground?

The trained dog uses its sense of smell to locate truffles buried in the soil, and signals the discovery to the hunter, who then carefully digs to extract it. The truffle hunter demonstrates this technique throughout the woodland walk, so you see the whole process unfold.

What exactly is served at the Tuscan lunch?

Lunch includes a pecorino flan topped with fresh truffle shavings, tagliolino pasta with truffle, and cantuccini biscuits served with Vin Santo. All three courses feature truffle or pair with it, and the wine and oil tasting precedes the meal.

What is the legend of Donna Ava that the guide mentions?

Donna Ava's story is part of Poggio ai Laghi's history, and the guide shares it during the wine and oil tasting at the estate. The legend enriches the setting and the estate's connection to the land and its traditions.