Truffle hunting in the Langhe
Into the woods with a trifolao and his dog, then the tasting. We drive.
With a real trifolao
A local hunter, his dog and the woods he has worked all his life. Nothing staged for visitors.
Two to three hours
Little walking, on easy ground: it works with children too, and with ordinary shoes.
The woods have no bus stop
No public transport reaches the meeting points: we drive you there and bring you back.
White and black, year round
Alba white truffle from October to January, summer and hooked truffles the rest of the year.
Truffle experiences
All toursThe hunt with the trifolao, the day at the Alba Fair and the wine tour most people add to the trip.
Food
Truffle Hunting with a Trifolao
Events
Alba White Truffle Fair Day Trip
Wine
Barolo and Barbaresco Wine Tour
An hour in the woods is worth a year of stories
Truffles are not farmed and cannot be seen: the dog finds them. You set off on foot from a gravel track, walk in among poplars, oaks and limes along a stream, and for the first half hour it looks as if nothing is happening. Then the dog stops, steps back three paces and starts to dig, and the trifolao waves him off to finish the hole with a small hand hoe, because one careless paw ruins a truffle worth hundreds of euro.
The outing lasts two to three hours, with little climbing and on firm ground: closed shoes and a jacket are enough. Almost all of them end at a farmhouse or a cellar with a tasting, usually an egg or a raw beef tartare with truffle shaved over it and a glass of Nebbiolo.
When to come
The calendar is set by the Piedmont region, not by the weather: the Alba white truffle is hunted from 1 October to 31 January, with a ban on harvesting every species during September. The richest stretch is late October into November, which is also Truffle Fair season.
Out of season you do not go home empty-handed: the summer truffle is hunted from June, the hooked truffle from October to December, the prized black from 15 December. Same woods, same dog, same way of working: what changes is the smell in the palm of your hand.
Getting to the woods
The meeting points are farmyards and widenings on gravel roads between Alba, Monforte, Roddi and the Belbo valley. They have no address a satnav finds first time, no car park and no bus. That is exactly the part we handle.
If you are already in the Langhe
We collect you at your hotel or farmhouse and bring you back after the tasting. If the hunt is at first light, as it often is in autumn, you leave in the dark and are back for lunch.
If you are coming from Turin or Milan
It works as a day trip: about an hour and a half from Turin, two and a half from Milan, starting at the airport, the station or your hotel. In autumn many people pair a morning hunt with the Alba World Truffle Market in the afternoon.
Who takes you
The trifolao is a licensed local hunter, with his own dog and his own permit. We neither run the hunt nor narrate it: we put you in touch, drive you there and wait. By law the truffle you find stays his: if you fall for it you buy it, on the spot or at the Alba market.
Frequently asked
Can we go truffle hunting?
Yes, with a local trifolao and his dog. The Alba white truffle is searched for from 1 October to 31 January under the regional calendar; out of season the hunt is for summer and hooked truffles, in the same woods with the same dog. The outing lasts two to three hours, involves little walking on easy ground, and almost always ends with a tasting. We drive you to the meeting point and back: the woods are not reachable by public transport.
Do you collect us at the hotel or is there a fixed meeting point?
We collect you where you are staying, anywhere in the Langhe: Alba, Barolo, La Morra, Monforte, Barbaresco, Neive, Serralunga and the villages around them. If you are coming for the day from Turin or Milan we start at the airport, the station or your city hotel and bring you back there in the evening.
How far ahead should we book a day out?
As early as you can, especially between September and November. The most sought-after estates close their diaries weeks ahead and Alba is full on Truffle Fair weekends. For a day among the cellars we suggest three or four weeks; for a dinner or a transfer two days is enough.
How much luggage can I bring?
Each passenger can count on one large suitcase and one piece of hand luggage. If you have extra bags, ski gear or sports equipment, note it when booking and we'll arrange the right vehicle.
What if the weather is bad, especially in the mountains?
Our drivers know the hill and mountain roads well and drive regularly in winter. Vehicles travel with suitable tyres and chains on board. In extreme conditions we contact you to find the best solution together.
I need a transfer at short notice: is it possible?
We recommend booking at least 2 days ahead, but we do our best for shorter requests too. Message us on WhatsApp at +39 392 478 9820 and we'll check availability right away.
We will find you the right hunter
Tell us when you are in the Langhe and how many you are: we set up the outing and drive you there.
