Truffle hunting adventure

The dogs are the real stars here. This 90-minute outing takes you into the Motovun hills with local truffle hunter Mihael Svilicic and his eager dogs, Mina, Roxy, and Luna. You walk woodland paths, watch the dogs search, and learn how black and white truffles grow beneath the soil.

I like the genuine family connection and the chance to see a working truffle hunt rather than just buy a jar of truffle cream in a shop. I also like the relaxed scale, with no more than 10 people. The main thing to check is the food arrangement: the hunt includes a truffle and wine tasting in its description, while the celebrated full lunch appears to be an optional addition.

This is a short activity, but it can become a much fuller Istrian outing if you add lunch at the family home. Expect mud, friendly dogs that may jump up, and a walk that feels more like a country visit than a polished stage show.

Key points to know before booking

• Mihael and his truffle dogs lead the hunt: Mina, Roxy, and Luna do the serious sniffing while Mihael explains the work.
• The search takes place in the Motovun hills: You walk through woodland and may encounter muddy ground, so sensible shoes matter.
• Black and white truffles are discussed: You learn about their growing conditions, seasons, and the role of a dog’s nose.
• The group is limited to 10 people: That keeps the activity personal and makes it easier to watch the dogs at work.
• The family lunch is the major add-on: Homemade pasta, bruschetta, meats, cheeses, salad, dessert, wine, and a terrace setting have made it the highlight for many visitors.
• Motovun pickup is limited: Collection is offered only from hotels and rooms in Motovun, not from every base in Istria.

Why truffle hunting fits an Istrian trip

Istria is one of Croatia’s best regions for food-focused travel. It is known for olive oil, wine, local pasta, cured meats, and truffles. This experience connects those foods to the forest where the prized fungi are found.

That connection matters. A restaurant dish with shaved truffle is pleasant, but seeing a dog detect something hidden under the soil gives you a better sense of why truffles cost so much. The hunt also introduces you to a local family trade rather than presenting truffles as a mysterious luxury product.

I especially like the balance between activity and conversation. You are not simply driven to a forest, shown a hole in the ground, and sent home. Mihael explains how the dogs are trained and how black and white truffles differ. The dogs provide plenty of entertainment, too, since they are working animals but also friendly companions.

The experience has a strong family feel. Mihael’s mother prepares the optional meal, and the setting at the family home is repeatedly praised for its view and shaded outdoor terrace. That second part gives the outing a sense of place that a standard tasting room cannot match.

Meeting in Motovun and getting ready

The stated meeting point is the DPD pickup location at Kanal 46, 52424 Motovun. The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Pickup is available only from hotels and rooms in Motovun, so you should not assume collection from Rovinj, Poreč, or another Istrian town.

The tour is often reserved well ahead, around 35 days in advance on average. That does not mean you must book months ahead for every date, but it is a useful warning for anyone planning a short stay in Istria. The small group limit and the family-run format can make last-minute spaces harder to find.

The provider supplies rubber boots when conditions are wet. Some visitors also used walking shoes when the ground was manageable. I would still wear clothes and footwear that can handle mud. The dogs can move quickly, and one of them may greet you with muddy paws.

Mosquitoes can be present in the woods. Mosquito spray has been supplied on some outings, but bringing your own is sensible. The hunt requires good weather, so a poor forecast can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Following Mina, Roxy, and Luna into the woods

The forest walk is the heart of the experience. Mihael takes the group through the Motovun hills while the dogs search for scent. You watch their behavior, follow their changes of direction, and wait for the moment one begins to investigate a patch of ground.

That moment is the payoff. Truffles grow underground, so you do not stroll along spotting them beside the path. The dogs’ sense of smell does the difficult work. Once a dog shows interest, Mihael can check the soil and reveal what is hidden below.

The walk is described as pleasant and not especially demanding. One family with children found the terrain easy and did not have to walk far. Still, this is a forest activity, not a paved town tour. Mud and uneven ground are possible, and the dogs may move faster than some members of your group.

Families should think about how children respond to dogs. Mina, Roxy, and Luna are described as friendly and entertaining, and children around six to 13 had a good time. But the dogs are energetic. If you are uneasy around dogs or dislike being approached by muddy paws, this may not be your best choice.

The group size of 10 is helpful here. A large crowd would make it harder to see the dogs work. With a small group, you have a better chance of hearing Mihael’s explanations and getting close enough to follow the action.

Black and white truffles beneath the soil

The educational side is simple but useful. You learn how black and white truffles grow, how their seasons differ, and how dogs are trained to find them. The exact success of the hunt can vary, but several outings found black truffles, and some also located white truffles.

Finding a truffle is not guaranteed by the price of admission. That is worth keeping clear in your mind. The walk, guide, dogs, and explanation are the main experience. A successful find is the bonus, not a promise.

The differences between black and white truffles also give the outing more substance. You are not just watching a dog dig. You begin to understand why availability changes during the year and why a small piece of fresh truffle can have such a strong effect on a dish.

Mihael’s role is important. He is a third-generation truffle hunter from Motovun and explains the work in good English. His enthusiasm comes through in the way he handles the dogs and talks about the local tradition. That personal link makes the hunt feel grounded in the area rather than packaged for passing visitors.

The tasting, wine, and optional family lunch

The experience description includes a celebratory tasting of local truffles and wines. That is a fitting end to the woodland search, and the price of $49.60 per person makes the short hunt and tasting a reasonable introduction to Istrian truffles.

There is one point to clarify before you pay: the full lunch appears to be an optional upgrade rather than part of the basic 90-minute activity. One person expected wine and tasting but did not receive that exact portion, while the descriptions of the lunch option are far more extensive.

If you choose lunch, plan for the activity to become much longer than 90 minutes. The meal is served at the family’s home in Motovun, often on a terrace or in a courtyard beneath grape vines. The view reaches across the green hills and peaks, giving you a calm place to sit after the forest walk.

The food is the strongest part of the optional addition. The meal can include meats and cheeses, truffle bruschetta, salad, truffle pasta, dessert, wine, and elderflower lemonade. The dishes are prepared by Mihael’s mother, and the home cooking is a major reason I would consider adding lunch.

This is not a quick sample on a standing counter. It is a generous family meal served at an easy pace. If you are visiting Istria as a food destination, the lunch may offer better value than the basic hunt alone, provided the added cost fits your budget.

Ask exactly what your chosen booking includes. Confirm the tasting, wine, and lunch details before arriving. That small bit of planning prevents disappointment and lets you compare the short hunt with the longer food experience fairly.

Is $49.60 a fair price?

For $49.60 per person, the basic outing is fairly priced if you value a small group, a local guide, trained dogs, and a hands-on introduction to truffle hunting. You are paying for access to a family’s working knowledge and woodland setting, not just for the chance to take home a truffle.

The price is especially reasonable for visitors who have never seen truffle hunting before. You get a walk, practical explanation, and a tasting-focused finish in roughly an hour and a half. It is also short enough to fit around a visit to Motovun.

The value changes if you mainly want a substantial meal. In that case, the optional lunch is likely the part you will remember most, but you need to treat it as an addition and check its price and contents. The meal descriptions are generous, yet the supplied details do not state the lunch supplement.

I would also count the small group as part of the value. A private or nearly private feel is possible when the maximum is 10, especially if not every available place is filled. You have a better chance to ask questions and watch the dogs without standing behind a crowd.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the experience to:

• Food lovers who want to connect Istrian dishes with local ingredients
• Couples looking for a relaxed countryside activity
• Families with children who enjoy dogs and outdoor walks
• Visitors staying in Motovun who want an activity close to town
• Anyone curious about traditional work that is still practiced today
• People who prefer small, personal tours to large bus groups

It is less suitable for anyone who wants a guaranteed haul of truffles, dislikes mud, or feels nervous around active dogs. It also may not suit visitors staying far from Motovun unless they arrange their own transport to the meeting point.

The walking is generally easy, but the forest setting means you should be comfortable outdoors. Wear old trousers and shoes, and bring mosquito spray. If the weather turns poor, the provider may cancel and offer another date or a full refund.

How this compares with a standard food tasting

A standard tasting gives you food quickly. This activity gives you a story first. You see the forest, follow the dogs, learn about the seasons, and then understand the truffle on your plate a little better.

That sequence is why I find the experience more memorable than a simple tasting. The food has a reason for being there. You have watched the dogs search and seen the work involved before sitting down to eat.

The optional lunch also brings you into the family’s home setting. The terrace, grape vines, mountain views, and homemade dishes create a more personal meal than a restaurant stop. It may be the best choice for anyone who wants local hospitality along with the hunt.

The tradeoff is time. The basic activity is easy to fit into a busy day, while the lunch requires a larger block of time. If your schedule is tight, book the hunt alone. If you have room for a leisurely meal, the lunch can turn a short excursion into one of your main Istrian memories.

Booking and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and a mobile ticket is available. The activity is near public transportation, though pickup is limited to hotels and rooms in Motovun.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. Cutoff times use local time, and poor weather can result in a different date or a full refund.

Should you book the Motovun truffle hunt?

I would book it if you want a friendly, local activity with real food value and a little mud under your shoes. Mihael, the dogs, the forest walk, and the family setting work together well, and the small group cap keeps the experience personal.

For the best version, choose the lunch option if available and confirm exactly what it includes. The hunt alone is a good short introduction, but the terrace meal appears to be the fuller taste of Motovun life.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed truffle find, dislike dogs, or cannot get to Motovun. For most food-minded visitors staying nearby, though, this is a smart way to spend part of a day in Istria.

FAQ

Where does the truffle hunting experience start?

It starts at the DPD pickup location at Kanal 46, 52424 Motovun, Croatia.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Motovun.

Is pickup available from Rovinj?

Pickup is offered only from hotels and rooms in Motovun. The provided details do not state that pickup is available from Rovinj.

How long does the truffle hunt last?

The stated duration is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How many people can join the activity?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

Will I see both black and white truffles?

The experience teaches you about both black and white truffles, and some outings have found both. A particular find is not guaranteed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.