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VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Alex

Pula, Croatia

USD
$250-$295 per person

Truffle hunting and tasting tour in Istria

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Alex

A former foreign correspondent with a background in art history and history, Alex (Aleksandar) is passionate about the food, wine and the truffles of the Istrian region, the home of his ancestors. Alex spent time in his early years working with top wine merchants and restaurants in Napa Valley and New York City. Inspired by his culinary work abroad, he returned home committed to showcasing the high-quality produce of his native Istria. A licensed guide of greater Istria, Alex is also a trained wine sommelier and an expert in olive oil and truffle tasting. Truffles are an important part of the culture and cuisine of Istria and Alex loves how they connect him to nature and to his ancestors. In the foothills of Motovun, a beautiful village atop a hill in Istria, learn about truffle hunting and tasting and some of the region’s many exceptional food products.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Food tour: (4-20 guests) Your host Alex will pick you up from your hotel on the western coast of Istria and drive you one hour to Livade, where your truffle experience takes place. Your experience will take place during a truffle fair weekend, one of 10 special weekends organized annually by the region. Start off your experience with a group truffle hunt! Head into the woods to go truffle hunting with Alex, truffle hunting dogs and a truffle master. An electric train will take you closer to the truffle hunting region, a few miles into the woods. Walk through the woods, following the lead of the dogs under oak, elm and poplar trees to uncover truffles found in the rich soil of this Istrian region. While the truffle hunting experience organized for the fair is open to other travelers who may also be present during the hunt, Alex will be your private truffle and tour guide. Your hunt may last up to an hour as you watch how truffles are collected and learn about the different types of truffles found in this region. Return to the fair and share a truffle-inspired lunch with Alex at a local restaurant. Choose between homemade pasta with black truffles or a truffle burger that you can enjoy over a glass of wine. After lunch, Alex will help you explore the fair where you can taste and sample some of the region’s best products, from white and black truffle-infused products, to cheese, to world famous olive oils. In addition to the food samples, you will be provided a glass to taste some of the many wines produced in the area. End your visit with a short trip to a local honey producer where you will get to taste some spectacular Istrian honey. Around 4pm, you will depart for your hotel.

Notes: Please note this experience is only available on Saturdays and Sundays between 14 Sep - 17 Nov each year.

This experience includes pick up and drop-off in a private car or van from towns along the western coastline of Istria, including Trieste.

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and walking shoes or sneakers.

Languages spoken: English, Italian, Croatian

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Alex

$250-$295 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Food Tour
 Not offered $295 $250
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Food Tour
 Not offered $295 $250
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Food Tour
 10:00am-7:00pm

Meet Alex

A former foreign correspondent with a background in art history and history, Alex (Aleksandar) is passionate about the food, wine and the truffles of the Istrian region, the home of his ancestors. Alex spent time in his early years working with top wine merchants and restaurants in Napa Valley and New York City. Inspired by his culinary work abroad, he returned home committed to showcasing the high-quality produce of his native Istria. A licensed guide of greater Istria, Alex is also a trained wine sommelier and an expert in olive oil and truffle tasting. Truffles are an important part of the culture and cuisine of Istria and Alex loves how they connect him to nature and to his ancestors. In the foothills of Motovun, a beautiful village atop a hill in Istria, learn about truffle hunting and tasting and some of the region’s many exceptional food products.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Food tour: (4-20 guests) Your host Alex will pick you up from your hotel on the western coast of Istria and drive you one hour to Livade, where your truffle experience takes place. Your experience will take place during a truffle fair weekend, one of 10 special weekends organized annually by the region. Start off your experience with a group truffle hunt! Head into the woods to go truffle hunting with Alex, truffle hunting dogs and a truffle master. An electric train will take you closer to the truffle hunting region, a few miles into the woods. Walk through the woods, following the lead of the dogs under oak, elm and poplar trees to uncover truffles found in the rich soil of this Istrian region. While the truffle hunting experience organized for the fair is open to other travelers who may also be present during the hunt, Alex will be your private truffle and tour guide. Your hunt may last up to an hour as you watch how truffles are collected and learn about the different types of truffles found in this region. Return to the fair and share a truffle-inspired lunch with Alex at a local restaurant. Choose between homemade pasta with black truffles or a truffle burger that you can enjoy over a glass of wine. After lunch, Alex will help you explore the fair where you can taste and sample some of the region’s best products, from white and black truffle-infused products, to cheese, to world famous olive oils. In addition to the food samples, you will be provided a glass to taste some of the many wines produced in the area. End your visit with a short trip to a local honey producer where you will get to taste some spectacular Istrian honey. Around 4pm, you will depart for your hotel.

Notes: Please note this experience is only available on Saturdays and Sundays between 14 Sep - 17 Nov each year.

This experience includes pick up and drop-off in a private car or van from towns along the western coastline of Istria, including Trieste.

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and walking shoes or sneakers.

Languages spoken: English, Italian, Croatian

Pricing (per person)*
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Food Tour
 Not offered $295 $250
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Food Tour
 Not offered $295 $250
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Food Tour
 10:00am-7:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

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    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

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    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

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