Truffle hunting adventure

Truffles hide underfoot. In Motovun, dogs find them. This 90-minute forest adventure introduces you to the Svilicic family, local truffle hunters who walk the Motovun hills with trained dogs and explain how black and white truffles grow. I like the close look at a real family trade, and I like that you may actually find truffles yourself. The main consideration is that the advertised wine tasting may not always be included as described, so confirm the exact package before booking.

Mihael is an energetic guide, and Mina, Roxy, and Luna are friendly working dogs with plenty of personality. I also like the chance to add a homemade lunch at the family home, where truffle pasta, bruschetta, local dishes, wine, and a hilltop view can turn a short outing into a full Istrian food experience. The woods can be muddy, mosquitoes can be bothersome, and dogs may jump up with muddy paws.

Key points to know before you book

• Follow Mina, Roxy, and Luna through Motovun’s woods: The dogs do the serious work, sniffing out buried black and white truffles while you watch their exciting change from playful pets to focused hunters.
• Meet the Svilicic family’s local tradition: Mihael explains truffle seasons, dog training, and the family’s connection to Motovun.
• Expect an easy but sometimes muddy walk: Rubber boots, rain ponchos, and mosquito spray may be available, but walking shoes and practical clothing are still wise.
• The optional lunch may be the highlight: Mihael’s mother prepares generous homemade dishes, often including truffle bruschetta, pasta, salad, dessert, meats, cheeses, and wine.
• Small groups keep it personal: The maximum group size is 10, and the activity returns to its meeting point in Motovun.
• The price is modest for a local experience: At $49.60 per person, the basic outing offers strong value, though you should check exactly what tasting or lunch option your booking includes.

Why truffle hunting fits Motovun so well

Motovun is one of Istria’s best places to connect food with place. The hill town rises above the surrounding woods, and truffles grow below those trees. You are not simply tasting a luxury ingredient in a restaurant. You are seeing how it is found, who searches for it, and how a local family uses it in the kitchen.

That connection is the heart of this experience. Mihael does not present truffles as a distant gourmet product. He explains the seasons, the difference between black and white truffles, and the way dogs are trained to locate their scent underground.

I find that useful because truffles can feel mysterious when they arrive shaved over pasta at a high-end restaurant. Here, you learn that the real skill belongs to the dog and the handler working as a team. The hunt gives context to the price and flavor of the ingredient.

The setting also matters. This is a walk in the Motovun hills rather than a demonstration in a shop. You get trees, uneven paths, fresh air, and the small thrill of following a dog that suddenly knows something you do not.

Meeting Mihael and the working dogs

The guide, Mihael, is central to the experience. He leads the walk, explains the work, and keeps the group involved. His English is described as strong, and he is comfortable answering questions about the dogs, the forest, and truffle seasons.

The dogs are not just decoration. Mina, Roxy, and Luna are trained to search for the scent of truffles, and watching them work is the most entertaining part of the outing. Roxy is a beagle, while the other dogs are also friendly and active companions during the hunt.

You may see a dog race ahead, stop suddenly, sniff the ground, and begin to dig. Mihael then checks the spot and helps uncover the truffle without damaging it. Finding both black and white truffles is possible, although the exact result depends on the season and conditions.

The dogs are affectionate, too. That is good news if you enjoy animals, especially for families with children. If you are afraid of dogs, easily startled, or do not like animals moving around you, this may not be the right choice. One of the dogs may jump up with muddy paws while looking for attention, so do not wear delicate clothing.

Walking the Motovun forest for about 90 minutes

The hunt lasts about an hour and a half in total, though the precise pace can vary. The walk is generally not demanding, and the route described by participants is not long or especially difficult. Still, this is a forest outing, not a paved stroll.

Expect mud if the weather has been wet. Mihael may provide rubber boots, and some outings also include rain ponchos and mosquito spray. I would still wear sturdy walking shoes if you have them, along with clothes you do not mind getting dirty. Mosquitoes have been a problem at times, so repellent is a sensible precaution.

The changing pace keeps the walk interesting. You might spend several minutes watching the dogs roam, then stop as soon as one catches a scent. Even if the search produces only a few truffles, you are learning how the process works rather than simply being handed a prepared sample.

The woods also give you a pleasant break from Istria’s busy coastal towns. You will not spend the whole activity eating or sitting. You are out in nature, moving at a comfortable pace, with the dogs providing plenty of comic relief.

Black truffles, white truffles, and the seasons

Mihael explains how black and white truffles differ and when each is found. This is one of the more useful parts of the tour because it helps you understand why truffle menus change throughout the year.

You may find black truffles during the hunt, and white truffles can sometimes appear even when they are not officially in season. The possibility of finding both adds excitement, but you should not book this expecting a guaranteed haul. The forest decides.

The dogs’ sense of smell is the key. Their noses locate the scent underground, and the handler reads their behavior. That partnership is easy to understand when you see it happen in front of you. It also explains why trained dogs have replaced older methods in many modern truffle hunts.

For me, the lesson is more valuable than the quantity found. A single successful dig can make the walk memorable, but the experience still works when the dogs do not uncover much. You are learning a skill that has been part of the local food culture for generations.

The family table and the optional lunch

The extra lunch option deserves careful attention. The short hunt and the family meal appear to be treated as separate choices, so check your booking details before assuming lunch is part of the $49.60 price.

If you add it, you may be taken to the family home in Motovun for a meal prepared by Mihael’s mother. The setting is a major part of the appeal: a terrace or courtyard with a view across the green hills, often shaded by grapevines.

The food is generous and homemade. Dishes described during the experience include meats and cheeses, truffle bruschetta, salad, truffle pasta, dessert, wine, and elderflower lemonade. The meal is not a tiny tasting plate designed only for a photograph. It can be a substantial lunch served at a relaxed pace.

I would add the lunch if food and local hospitality are high on your list. Several people consider it the best meal of their Croatian trip, which is strong praise. It also gives you time with the family after the walk, when you can ask more questions and enjoy the setting without watching the clock.

There is one important point to clear up. The experience description includes a celebratory tasting with local truffles and wines, but at least one person did not receive the wine tasting as expected. That does not necessarily mean every departure is the same, but it does mean you should confirm whether the wine and tasting are included in your chosen option.

What the $49.60 price really buys you

At $49.60 per person, the basic experience is fairly priced for a small-group activity led by a local family. You are paying for Mihael’s time, the guided forest walk, the dog work, and an introduction to truffle foraging. The group limit of 10 helps keep the outing from feeling like a crowded show.

The value improves if you care about authentic food traditions rather than checking off a famous ingredient. You get access to a working truffle-hunting setting that would be difficult to arrange on your own. You also avoid the stiffness of a formal food lecture.

The calculation changes if you are mainly seeking a large tasting or full meal. The standard duration is only about 90 minutes, and the lunch may cost extra. Read the selected option carefully, especially if you are booking for a family or group.

Compared with a costly restaurant meal centered on truffles, this gives you more story and activity for your money. Compared with a simple woodland walk, it costs more because you are receiving a specialist demonstration and a chance to participate in the search.

Pickup, meeting point, and timing

The meeting point is DPD Pickup lokacija at Kanal 46, 52424 Motovun, Croatia. The activity ends back at the meeting point, which keeps the plan simple if you are exploring Motovun afterward.

Pickup is offered only from hotels and rooms in Motovun. Do not assume that a hotel in Rovinj, Poreč, or another Istrian town is covered just because Rovinj is used as the general location for the activity. If you are staying elsewhere, plan to reach Motovun independently.

The activity is near public transportation, and confirmation is sent when you book. Since the experience is booked around 35 days ahead on average, I would not leave it until the last day if your Istrian schedule is fixed. The maximum is 10 people, so advance planning also helps during busy periods.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this to food lovers, families, couples, and anyone who wants a countryside experience with a local connection. Children can enjoy the dogs and the hunt, and the walk is generally easy enough for most people.

It is also a good choice if you have already seen Motovun’s old streets and want to understand the area beyond its hilltop views. The forest and family table show a quieter side of Istria.

You should think twice if you dislike dogs, muddy paths, mosquitoes, or uncertain results. This is not a polished indoor tasting where every moment is controlled. The dogs may follow their own agenda, the ground may be wet, and the hunt may find more on one day than another.

I would also avoid wearing sensitive clothing. The dogs are friendly and energetic, and muddy paws are part of the bargain.

How to make the most of the outing

Confirm three things before you pay: the meeting point, the pickup limit, and whether your selected option includes the tasting or lunch. The pickup rule is especially important because only Motovun hotels and rooms are covered.

Wear practical shoes and bring mosquito repellent. If rubber boots are offered, take them when the ground is wet. Keep your phone or camera ready, but give the dogs room to work and listen when Mihael explains what they are doing.

If you add lunch, allow more time than the advertised 90 minutes. The forest hunt is the main activity, but the family meal can become a relaxed second half of the day rather than a quick snack.

Most of all, measure success by the experience, not by the number of truffles found. Watching Mina, Roxy, or Luna locate a scent, seeing Mihael interpret the dog’s behavior, and then tasting the ingredient at the family table is the complete story.

Should you book this Motovun truffle hunt?

Book it if you want a personal, food-focused outing with real local character. The strongest reasons are Mihael’s warm guiding style, the friendly trained dogs, the chance to search for black and white truffles, and the homemade family lunch.

I would choose the lunch add-on if your budget allows and confirm the wine tasting in advance. Without lunch, this is a short woodland activity with good value. With lunch, it can become one of the most memorable food experiences in Istria.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed tasting menu, dislike dogs, or want a completely dry and predictable walk. For everyone else, this is a smart way to connect Motovun’s forest, food, and family traditions in a single outing.

FAQ

Where does the truffle hunting experience begin?

It begins at DPD Pickup lokacija, Kanal 46, 52424 Motovun, Croatia.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Motovun.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered only from hotels and rooms in Motovun.

How long does the experience last?

The truffle hunt lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How many people can join?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the provider to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.