Among nature, scents, and traditions
Truffle hunting in the Langhe: with the trifolato in the woods
Duration:
half day
Group:
min. 2 people
Difficulty:
easy
Activity type:
On foot in the woods
An authentic experience in the woods, among nature, scents, and traditions
Our truffle-hunting experience in the Langhe takes place in the woods, alongside a real *trifolao* (truffle hunter) and his trained dog.
“In the Langhe, even truffles depend on the moon — in fact, they are the moon. In the Langhe, you go truffle hunting at night, in the dark, searching for the precious treasure hidden from the light.”
Cesare Pavese
PERFECT FORMAT FOR
- Hen Party
- Birthday Celebration
Scegli la tua formula
From a walk in the woods to the table: tour with country snack or farmhouse lunch
Formula A - Truffle hunting and traditional farmhouse snack
€70
What’s included:
- Truffle hunt in the woods with a real *trifolao* (truffle hunter) and his loyal four-legged companion.
- Country-style snack with local products — and of course, a glass of excellent Langhe wine.
The experience takes place in Castino or Monforte, either in the morning or afternoon (please specify your preference when booking).
Formula B - Truffle hunting and traditional farmhouse lunch
€90
What’s included:
- 1.5 to 2 hours with your guide — the *trifolao* — and his dog, discovering the secrets of truffle hunting.
- Lunch featuring local cured meats and cheeses, a few homemade dishes, a plate of “tajarin” pasta with butter and grated black truffle, and a sweet finale with hazelnut cake. Naturally, a glass of fine Langhe wine will accompany the meal. Lunch takes place at the *trifolao*’s home, a small restored tavern that feels like stepping back in time!
The experience takes place in Castino in the morning, starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending after lunch around 2:00 p.m.
Information for all formulas
The experience can take place in Castino or Monforte (CN).
Two options:
- Start at 10 a.m., followed by lunch
- Afternoon starts around 3 p.m., with a hearty snack to end the experience
The truffle hunt will last half a day.
Minimum of 2 people – It will not be an exclusive event: you will be with other people. For groups, it is possible to organize an exclusive truffle hunt for the pre-established group.
You can add the following services:
- Transportation
- Additional food and wine tastings (hazelnuts, Cheese, winery visit)
- Overnight stay
All our tours are organized on request, for the date you choose and the number of people you indicate.
Once we receive your request, we check availability and send you a detailed quote.
To confirm, a 30% deposit is required (the balance is due 15 days before the tour).
If the date is very close, full payment may be requested.
We accept bank transfer, credit card, or Satispay.
Each quote has a clearly indicated expiration date.
SlowDays communicates mainly by email. It’s the best way to provide clear, organized, and quick answers to every request.
Write to us at claudia@slowdays.it or fill out the form on the tour page — we’ll get back to you soon. Everything we discuss will be written down and easy for everyone to review.
If it becomes necessary to talk by phone, we’ll decide that later.
We prefer this method because it helps us manage timing, quotes, and information efficiently, ensuring everyone receives accurate and attentive service.
The tour details will be shared after confirmation and payment.
SlowDays is not a third-party portal: we personally organize every package, selecting the most suitable partners each time based on style, quality, and availability.
Since 2016, we’ve worked with a trusted network of partners and satisfied guests. Our reviews will tell you more about us than any presentation could.
If you have specific preferences, please let us know right away — we’ll evaluate the options or suggest the closest alternatives.
In case of bad weather or uncertain conditions, SlowDays — with your agreement — will activate a Plan B to ensure your day isn’t spoiled.
Depending on the type of tour or event, we may postpone, adapt, or modify the experience, always seeking a solution that maintains its spirit and your goals.
The specific arrangements may vary depending on the type of event or package chosen.
Our prices do not officially change between high and low season: we keep the same reference rates all year round.
However, please note that in autumn — the peak season in the Langhe — some venues or services may apply surcharges, which we must adjust for. Booking well in advance is always a brilliant idea!
Since each quote is personalized, there may also be slight price variations depending on the venues or suppliers available at the time of confirmation. We always aim to maintain the best possible balance between quality, availability, and price. 🌿
When you send your request, you can ask to personalize your tour:
- Preferred time
- Add an experience — dinner, an aperitif, an overnight stay, or one of the many activities you’ll find on our website and in other tours. We’ll evaluate together based on availability, timing, and the overall organization of the day.
I'll tell you about autumn
Truffle hunting in the Langhe
The fragrant truffle hides underground. Near the roots of poplars, willows, oaks, and elder trees — preferably those that stand alone — grows and ripens the king of tubers, the Tuber Magnatum.
Its favorite soil is clayey and moist, often on north-facing slopes. If the summer is too dry, the truffle struggles to grow and mature. I’m telling you this to satisfy a bit of curiosity — but if you actually want to become a truffle hunter, you’d better try to “befriend” a *trifulau*!
These *trifulau* are now sharpening their “tools.” They begin taking their dogs out to train early in the morning — at dawn, actually. That way, the dogs aren’t distracted by noise, and the hunting areas remain secret!
The most colorful season has arrived. The hills of the Langhe begin to dress in shades of yellow, orange, and red, like a curtain rising on the most nostalgic and tender time of year.
So let me tell you about the spectacle of Truffle Hunting in the Langhe — the White Truffle of Alba, or “trifula” if you want to sound like a local!
Well-guarded precious secrets
Truffle hunting in Alba and surroundings — how does it work?
Upon arrival, you’ll meet the *trifulau* and the real star of the day — his dog.
The *trifulau* is a true nature lover, passionate about the woods, long walks, and his dogs. He’s also quite solitary, because the places where truffles grow in the Langhe are secret and carefully guarded. The Truffle King is a creature of habit — once found, it will likely return to the same spot the following season.
His dog is trained with affection — and rewarded with little truffle treats! It’s a wonderful kind of hunt, with no bloodshed but plenty of fragrance in the air.
After meeting the stars of the day, you’ll learn about the terrain, the techniques, and some fascinating gastronomic insights from the world of truffles.
Where does truffle hunting take place?
In the heart of the Langhe, together with the *trifulau* and his dog
You’ll head into the woods to hunt for truffles. Comfortable shoes are essential! Step by step, the excitement builds.
You’ll hear the *trifulau* urging his dog on during the white truffle hunt:
“Dai, dai! Brava, keep going!” — and the dog moves about like a joyful, excited hound.
Then comes the magic moment. The dog has caught the scent of the treasure. He digs eagerly and impatiently, and now the *trifulau* must calm him down — the truffle is there, but at this point, there are two contenders: the dog, who wants to bite it, and the *trifulau*, who wants to extract it gently.
The tension rises, and the roles are clear. The *trifulau* finds the truffle and must rescue it from his dog’s enthusiasm! Then, as the truffle emerges from its hiding place, everyone around can smell its intoxicating fragrance.
The dog calms down and receives his well-earned reward.
I hope I’ve managed to share at least a bit of the beauty of this challenge — and the joy of witnessing nature’s secrets revealed.
And for a perfect ending, after you’ve searched and hunted alongside the *trifulau*, you deserve your own reward — a Langhe truffle tasting is the finest way to celebrate your “hard work.”
Two eggs with truffle shavings? A plate of *tajarin*? The simpler the dish, the stronger the truffle shines — at least, that’s my humble opinion!
When can you join the truffle hunt?
A hunt that follows the seasons: white, black, and spring truffles
Cold nights and humid air help the precious underground fungus mature slowly, giving its best aroma and flavor when it’s finally found.
After all, it’s all about the scent — try tasting a truffle with your nose closed, and you’ll lose half the pleasure, if not more!
At this point, some might wonder whether it truly deserves all that fame. After all, it’s mostly aroma… well, I’d say yes! That unmistakable fragrance — which I wouldn’t dare compare to anything else for fear of diminishing it — is intoxicating, almost magical. So yes, it’s worth the price at least once a year. You only live once.
And now, let’s talk about the less romantic side: how much does the White Truffle of Alba cost at its peak? The price varies by season and size — smaller or broken truffles cost less. It’s reasonable to expect around €300–350 per 100 grams, though in challenging years it can reach over €600–700. During the Truffle Fair, prices often increase due to higher demand. If you’re in the area between October and December, you can pair this experience with the International Alba White Truffle Fair.
Want to gift an experience in the Langhe?
Go to the SlowBox page and choose your favorite.
Ma quanto è un etto di tartufo?
How much truffle is necessary to shave for a dish?
Let’s say a nice, generous shaving is around 6–7 grams, so if truffles cost €300 per 100 grams, your rich, fragrant dish will come to about €18–21. Of course, if you choose one of the many restaurants in the Langhe, Roero, or Monferrato, you should expect slightly higher prices.
Truffle hunting in the Langhe and tasting: which dishes pair best with truffles?
Truffles have an elegant, sophisticated, and unmistakable aroma — it’s important not to cover it with intense flavors. That’s why the most traditional and recommended pairings are classic egg tagliatelle (*tajarin*, often made with the typical 40-yolk recipe) or simply a fried egg — my personal favorite! Some enjoy it with raw meat, but I think it shines best on warm dishes… just a matter of taste, of course. It’s also amazing with Cheese fondue.
Which wine pairs best with truffles?
When it comes to pairing, the main dish sets the rules — but you can’t go wrong with the rich, full-bodied red wines typical of the Langhe!
But why is truffle so expensive? And why is the white truffle from Alba even more costly?
Marketing has undoubtedly played a role in enhancing truffles’ value, but their fame is also due to their rarity and the difficulty of finding them. The truffle from Alba stands out for its intense and unmistakable aroma.
From this perspective, one of the most authentic experiences is truffle hunting with a dog — joining the *trifolao* and his loyal companion in search of the precious fungus, often at dawn. It’s thrilling to watch the dog’s excitement as it sniffs around, darting through the undergrowth in search of truffles. It’s also fascinating to learn about the dogs’ training techniques and how truffles are carefully extracted — they mustn’t break, after all.
This is the side of the truffle I love most: returning it to what it truly is — a natural product of the earth, not merely a luxury item for fine dining tables worldwide (that comes later). It’s a wonderfully fragrant fungus that grows underground only under specific conditions and in particular places, which makes it rare and precious.
It’s a product that speaks of *trifolai* who still speak in their native Piedmontese dialect, and of dogs who understand only that “language.” It tells of a deep bond between them and, above all, of ecology and respect for nature. Because as long as truffles exist, nature is still alive. Truffles grow only in the woods — and only by preserving them will we continue to enjoy this wonder of nature. The truffle has a humble, rustic soul — far less pretentious than many gourmet products. In the end, all it needs is a simple fried egg to shine at its best!
I could go on for hours about the world of truffles, the trees that help them grow, the regions where they can be found, and the many different varieties — but I’d rather leave a bit of mystery… a fragrant mystery, just like the White Truffle of Alba!
If you want to discover this world in person, join a truffle hunt with tasting or lunch in the Langhe — I promise it will be unforgettable!
Would you like to learn all about truffles — seasons and varieties? We’ve written a whole article about this magical world.
Tale of an experience
