Truffle Hunting and 3-course Truffle Brunch in Motovun

Dogs, dirt, and black truffles in Istria. This Motovun truffle hunt pairs a one-hour search with Bella and Lila, plus a hands-on 3-course truffle brunch in a family summer kitchen. One heads-up though: the forest trail can get muddy and slick, so pack grippy shoes.

I like that the morning starts with hospitality first, three homemade rakijas plus elderflower water, then a short reset break. You also get a small-group feel, capped at 20 people, and a team that speaks six languages.

The best part for many people is the mix of food and learning. You’ll hear stories and even get a food anthropologist involved, so the truffle market topic is more than trivia. The only drawback I’d watch for is that transportation is on you, since private transport is not included.

Key highlights worth knowing

• Bella and Lila do the hunting, and you learn how they work
• Fresh black truffles show up in the eggs cooked right in front of you
• Three homemade rakijas plus Malvazija wine with your brunch
• A small group size of 20 keeps the experience personal
• Food anthropologist adds context on truffles and the market
• Motovun views appear during the drive to the grove

Arriving in Motovun: the welcome, the drive, and the small-group pace

This experience runs from 10:00 am and lasts about 2 hours 15 minutes, give or take a little. You’ll meet at Miro Tartufi, address Kanal 27, 52424 Motovun, and it ends back at the same spot. Even though the wider area is sometimes described as Rovinj, the action here is centered in Motovun.

Before you go anywhere near the trees, you start with comfort and conversation. You’ll be welcomed with three homemade rakijas and elderflower water, then there’s a short break and a toilet stop. That setup matters because you’re about to walk on uneven ground for an hour.

After that, you follow your hosts in your own car for a short scenic drive, about 5 minutes. There’s already a sense of where you are in the Istrian hills, with the view of Motovun mentioned as part of what you see on the way.

The whole thing stays small, with a maximum of 20 travelers. That size is big enough that the group stays lively, but small enough that you can ask questions while the dogs are doing their work.

The truffle hunt in the grove and forest with Bella and Lila

The heart of the tour is the hunt: 1 hour in the grove and forest, guided by expert truffle hunters plus two trained dogs, Bella and Lila. You’ll learn how truffles grow, and you’ll see how the dogs find them. That’s not just a cute animal trick. It’s a skill built on training and routine, and it changes how you look at the whole process.

Here’s what to keep in mind while you’re there. Truffle hunting takes place in woodland conditions, not a park path. Expect ground that can be muddy or slick, and plan for footing. The good news is that the trek is described as manageable even for an older participant, but manageable does not mean flat. Wear shoes you can trust, not fashion sneakers.

You’ll also get a chance to understand the timing of truffles in a practical way. One seasonal detail shared during a September visit is that black truffles can still be found while white truffles begin around that time. You won’t control what you find on your day, but you’ll walk away understanding the season rhythm better than you would from a label in a shop.

If you’re a dog person, this is likely the part you’ll remember. The dogs are central to the experience, not an add-on, and the training explanations help you watch with a purpose, not just for entertainment.

A note for service animals

Service animals are allowed, but the tour also does truffle hunting with dogs in the forest. That means the organizers can’t guarantee you can bring your service dog into the forest with the hunt. If this affects you, contact them in advance and tell them what kind of service animal it is.

Motovun moments: views and why the setting matters

Motovun isn’t just a name you say before the brunch. The tour includes Motovun stops as part of the experience flow, and the region shows up in the details.

You’ll get the Motovun view during the drive to the grove and forest. That short scenic segment is easy to overlook, but it helps you connect the hunt to the real geography of Istria. Truffles grow in specific woodland conditions, and the view clue is a gentle reminder that you’re in a working countryside, not a theme-park setup.

Motovun itself is the kind of hill town people visit for atmosphere. Here, the setting also becomes part of the learning, because the guides are telling stories about the land and the tradition of truffles in the area. It’s not a lecture. It’s a “look, this is why it grows here” kind of conversation.

From hunt to table: how the three-course truffle brunch works

After the forest, you head back to the home base and gather in the summer kitchen for the tasting. This is where the day pays off, because the food is truffle-forward and built around what you just learned.

The menu follows a clear three-course path, and each course has a different texture and truffle use.

Starter: truffle platter with local staples

First up is a truffle platter. Expect spreads, truffle cheeses, and truffle salami, plus bread and a salad with black truffle carpaccio. It’s finished with truffle olive oils and balsamic.

The value of this starter is that it doesn’t treat truffle as a single flavor. You’ll taste it in multiple forms: creamy spreads, cured meats, cheese, and a fresher application in the carpaccio. If you usually see truffles sold as shavings for pasta, this course helps you understand how broad the flavor family is.

Main: scrambled eggs with fresh black truffles

The main is scrambled eggs with black truffles, made with fresh truffles and prepared right in front of you. That “in front of you” part is more than theater. Watching the cooking helps you see how strongly truffles can perfume dairy and how fast you want to serve once the truffle is added.

Also, scrambled eggs are a smart choice for this type of tasting. They’re simple, so you taste the truffle clearly, and they’re comforting, which is exactly what you want after a muddy hour in the woods.

Dessert: truffle chocolate cake with truffle honey

Dessert is chocolate cake with truffle honey and fresh black truffles. You’ll get a finish with grated black summer truffle.

This is a fun combination because it shows truffle as something other than savory. If you only think of truffles in sauces, the dessert makes the flavor feel more surprising and more approachable.

Drinks included: rakija and Malvazija

Your brunch includes welcome rakija and Malvazija, a white wine. The rakija start comes right at the beginning, so you’ll be sipping early. If you’re driving your own car, plan how you handle alcohol, because you’re likely to want your mobility for getting to and from Motovun.

What you learn beyond truffles: stories, languages, and the anthropologist angle

Food tours often stop at taste. This one keeps talking, and the tone is practical.

You’ll hear stories about truffles and the region, plus family stories from the team. The group is multilingual, with a team that speaks six languages, and the tour is offered in English.

One ingredient that stands out is the inclusion of a food anthropologist. The anthropology angle can sound academic, but the way it’s described makes it feel like history with context: how the truffle market developed, and why the whole culture around truffles became what it is today. It’s the kind of explanation that makes you understand the price and the obsession, without turning it into a dry lecture.

Price and value: what $135.16 really covers

At $135.16 per person, this isn’t a budget snack tour. You’re paying for a package: the one-hour hunt, guided interpretation, dog work with two trained animals, and a full three-course tasting meal built entirely around truffles.

What makes it feel more like good value than just a restaurant meal is the mix of costs you normally pay separately:

• Expertise and time for the truffle hunt
• The dogs and their training focus
• A starter, main, and dessert that use truffles multiple ways
• Wine (Malvazija) plus the welcome rakijas

Also, it runs about 2 hours 15 minutes, so you’re not spending a full day waiting around. If you’re building an Istria food day, this has the structure that helps you plan your other meals.

Practical tips before you go

A few things will make this experience smoother.

• Bring grippy shoes for the forest floor. It can be muddy or slick.
• Wear layers. You’re outside during the hunt, then you’re back in for cooking and tasting.
• Plan on using your own transportation to reach the meeting point. The tour doesn’t include private transport, though they say they can arrange it for an added cost if you ask in advance.
• If you have questions about service animals, contact the provider ahead of time so they can guide you on whether your animal can accompany the hunt in the forest.
• If you’re planning ahead, know that this is often booked about a month ahead on average. Starting early helps avoid sold-out dates.

Who this tour is best for, and who should skip it

This is a strong match if you love food details and want more than a generic tasting. You’ll get the full truffle story, from how they grow and how dogs find them, to what fresh black truffles taste like when cooked into scrambled eggs.

You’ll also like it if you enjoy animal-assisted learning. Bella and Lila are part of the point, and the dogs help make the lesson feel real.

It may be less ideal if:

• You have trouble with uneven, possibly muddy terrain. The trek is described as manageable, but it’s still a forest walk.
• You rely on private transport and don’t want to drive to Motovun. You can arrange transport for an extra cost, but it’s not included by default.

Should you book the truffle hunt and brunch in Motovun?

Book it if you want an Istria experience that mixes hands-on truffle hunting, a real woodland walk, and a truffle meal that goes beyond shaved truffle on top of something. The dogs and the cooking are a big reason this stands out, and the anthropologist talk gives the day extra depth without losing the fun.

Skip it if you’re seeking an easy stroll with no traction worries, or if driving to Motovun is a deal-breaker for your schedule. With that said, if you can handle a short forest trek and you’re happy to drive to the meeting point, this is the kind of tour that leaves you with both a full stomach and a clearer idea of why truffles matter.

FAQ

What time does the tour start in Motovun?

The tour starts at 10:00 am.

How long is the experience?

It lasts about 2 hours 15 minutes.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is Miro Tartufi, Kanal 27, 52424, Motovun, Croatia.

What language is the tour offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 20 travelers.

What food and drinks are included?

You get brunch with three courses plus welcome rakija and Malvazija (white wine).

What is not included in the price?

Private transportation is not included. You must arrive with your own transport, though transportation can be arranged for an additional cost if you ask in advance.

What happens during the truffle hunting?

You join expert truffle hunters and two trained dogs, Bella and Lila, for about an hour of truffle hunting through the grove and forest, learning how truffles grow and how the dogs find them.

Are service animals allowed?

Service animals are allowed, but because the hunt is done with dogs in the forest, the provider cannot guarantee you can bring your service dog into the forest with the group. Let them know what kind of service animal you have.

Is cancellation free, and how late can I cancel?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.