Truffles meet trained dogs in Motovun. This tour turns a forest walk into a lesson you can taste, starting with a relaxed welcome and ending with a 3-course truffle brunch. I like that the whole experience is built around real work in the grove, not a staged food show.

Two things I especially like: first, you get hands-on explanation from the truffle hunters and watch Bella and Lila do their job with practiced confidence. Second, the food is made in a way you can actually smell and see—scrambled eggs cooked right in front of you, plus a chocolate cake finished with fresh black truffle.

One consideration: you’ll need to get yourself to the meeting point and follow in cars to the hunting area. If you don’t want to walk on uneven, sometimes slick forest ground, this part may feel like more effort than expected.

Key highlights to look for

• Bella and Lila are the stars: trained dogs that guide you through how truffles are found
• A real forest hunt: about 1 hour in the grove and forest, with learning baked in
• Views of Motovun from the truffle area during the drive and stops
• Three-course truffle brunch: spreads and meats, fresh truffle eggs, then truffle chocolate cake
• More than food: stories plus a food anthropologist discussing the truffle market and its meaning
• Small group size: up to 20 travelers, which keeps questions and conversation flowing

Meet at Miro TartufiKanal and start on time

The experience begins at Miro TartufiKanal 27, Motovun. The start time is 10:00 am, and it runs for about 2 hours 15 minutes in total, then ends back at the same meeting point. That timing matters because you’re not being rushed through 6 hours of “tour day” stuff—you’re doing a focused hunt and then transitioning straight into brunch.

This is also one of those tours where getting there on time helps everything feel smooth. If you’re driving, give yourself buffer time to park and find the right spot. If you’re using public transport, plan extra carefully, because the tour does not include private door-to-door pickup.

Welcome drinks, a toilet stop, and a quick reset

Before you move toward the hunting area, you’ll be welcomed with three homemade rakijas and elderflower water. Then there’s a short break and toilet stop before the group heads out. I like this pacing because it gives you a clean start: you’re not scrambling for a bathroom mid-drive or rushing straight into cold forest air after a long commute.

Also, the welcome is not just a token pour. It sets the tone for the rest of the day—family-style, local, and meant to feel like you’re joining the work, not just buying a ticket.

Follow in cars for a short scenic ride to the grove

You’ll drive about 5 minutes to the truffle grove and forest, and along the way you’ll get a stunning view of Motovun. The scenic element is important here because Motovun’s hill-town look helps you understand why truffle country has such strong ties to place: the view makes the region feel real, not abstract.

One practical detail: the tour notes that guests must arrive with their own transport. You then follow the team’s cars to the hunting area. If you need help arranging transportation, that can be done for an additional cost—just tell them in advance.

The truffle hunt: one hour with experts and two trained dogs

The core of the experience is an about 1-hour truffle hunt through the grove and forest. You’ll hunt with an expert team plus two trained dogs, Bella and Lila. This is where the tour becomes more than food tourism.

You’ll learn how truffles grow and how the dogs find them. That might sound simple, but it’s genuinely the point: truffles aren’t “found” the way mushrooms might be. They’re connected to the ecosystem and the ground conditions, and the dogs are trained to detect them with a kind of steady focus that’s fun to watch.

The walk itself is usually manageable, but it can be muddy or slick, especially depending on weather and season. In one example from a recent group, even an 80-year-old participant found it doable. Still, I’d treat it as a real outdoor walk: wear shoes with grip, not thin city soles, and expect uneven ground.

Dogs and service animals: know the limit

Service animals are allowed, but there’s an important note: because the hunt is done with dogs in the forest, the team can’t guarantee your service dog can go into the forest with you. If this affects your plans, tell them what kind of service animal you have so they can advise you on what’s realistically possible.

Language and group size keep things personal

The experience is offered in English, and the maximum group size is 20 travelers. That upper limit makes a difference when you want to ask questions about how the hunting works, what truffles look like, and why the process matters.

Motovun stops: why the town is more than a backdrop

Motovun is woven into the experience in more than one way, and you’ll see it referenced as part of the day rather than treated like a separate sightseeing add-on. During the drive to the grove, you’ll get views over Motovun, and the schedule includes additional time that keeps Motovun in the story.

What you’ll take away is context. Motovun sits in Istria’s truffle country, and truffles have long shaped local habits—how people think about the land, how markets work, and why certain families become known for hunting and tasting. The tour team shares stories throughout, and that’s where Motovun shifts from scenery into meaning.

The three-course truffle brunch in the summer kitchen

After the hunt, you return to the home base and gather in the summer kitchen for a three-course truffle tasting. This part is built for contrast: you spent an hour searching in the quiet grove, and now you get warm, social food made around conversation.

The included drinks help set the tone too: you’ll have Malvazija (white wine) with your meal, plus the earlier welcome rakija. If you’re the type who likes to slow down at lunch, this is a good place to do it—your food arrives in an order that feels intentional, not rushed.

Starter: truffle platter of spreads, cheeses, salami, and oils

The first course is a truffle platter with truffle spreads, truffle cheeses, truffle salami, bread, and a salad featuring black truffle carpaccio. It also comes with local olive oils and balsamic drizzled over the dish.

This starter is clever because it lets you experience truffle in multiple forms without committing to just one flavor moment. You can compare the impact of oil versus cheese versus cured meat, and you’ll quickly understand why truffle lovers often chase variety, not just intensity.

Main: scrambled eggs with fresh black truffles, cooked in front of you

Next is scrambled eggs with fresh black truffles. The eggs are prepared in front of you, which is both entertaining and practical. You see the cooking process, and you get the moment when the truffles go in, which is when the aroma really fills the room.

This is also where “learning by tasting” clicks. After hearing about how truffles grow and how dogs find them, you get a straightforward, comfort-food payoff that makes the flavor feel immediate rather than mysterious.

Dessert: truffle honey chocolate cake with fresh black truffles

For dessert, you’ll get chocolate cake with truffle honey and topped with grated black summer truffle. The combination is indulgent, but it also makes sense: chocolate is a strong base, and the truffle adds an earthy counterpoint rather than simply a single-note taste.

It’s a memorable finish because it leaves your brain doing the work of connecting the forest hunt to something sweet and familiar.

Food anthropologist talk: why market history is part of the meal

One standout detail is that the team includes a food anthropologist to enrich the experience. That may sound academic, but in practice it adds value because it explains why truffles matter beyond flavor.

During the tasting, you’ll hear stories about truffles, the region, and the family behind the work. You’ll also get context about the history of the truffle market, including how the trade shaped local life. If you care about how food traditions form, this is one of the things that makes the experience feel more grounded than a basic tasting.

Price and value: what you’re paying for

The price is $135.16 per person, and at first glance it’s not a “cheap lunch” type of deal. But here’s where the value math makes sense:

• You’re paying for a real guided hunt (about 1 hour) with expert help and two trained dogs
• You’re paying for a full three-course brunch with truffle components in every course
• You get included drinks (Malvazija and welcome rakija)
• You’re also paying for interpretation: stories, and a food anthropologist contribution
• The group is capped at 20, which usually keeps the experience from feeling like assembly-line tourism

If your goal is only to eat truffle dishes, you might find meals elsewhere in Istria for less money. But if your goal is to understand how truffles are found and to connect the ingredient to its culture, this is the kind of package that earns its price.

Who should book this Motovun truffle morning

This tour fits best if you:

• like your food experiences with real context, not just tasting
• enjoy animals and seeing trained dogs work in a meaningful setting
• want a day that feels active but not extreme (about 1 hour in the woods, then brunch)
• care about learning how truffles grow and why seasons matter

It might be less ideal if you:

• don’t like walking on potentially muddy/slick terrain
• rely on easy, fully accessible movement during the hunt
• can’t manage the fact that you must arrive with your own transport and follow the cars
• need a service animal that must be with you inside the forest during dog-led hunting (the tour can’t guarantee that)

Should you book this truffle hunt and brunch?

Book it if you want an experience that connects the forest to the table with Bella and Lila, honest explanations, and a meal you’ll actually remember because you saw where the ingredient comes from. The pacing is tight and thoughtful: welcome drinks, short drive, a focused hunt, then a three-course brunch that doesn’t feel like filler.

Skip it only if the forest walk is a deal-breaker for your comfort level or if your logistics get too complicated without private transport. If you’re flexible on that—and you’re excited about how truffles are found—this is a strong, value-driven way to spend a morning in Motovun’s truffle country.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 10:00 am.

How long is the experience?

It runs for approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

Where do I meet the group?

You meet at Miro TartufiKanal 27, 52424, Motovun, Croatia. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Is transportation included?

No. You’ll need to arrive with your own transport and follow the team in cars. If needed, transportation can be arranged for an additional cost if you request it in advance.

What’s included in the brunch?

The tour includes a truffle brunch (starter, main, dessert) plus alcoholic beverages. It includes Malvazija (white wine) and a welcome rakija.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

There’s a maximum of 20 travelers.

Are service animals allowed?

Service animals are allowed, but you should let the team know what kind you have. Because the hunt is done with dogs, they can’t guarantee the service animal can go into the forest with you.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.