Truffle Hunting in Piedmont: Alba, the Langhe & How to Book

The short version: a Piedmont truffle hunt takes you into the oak woods of the Langhe around Alba with a trifolau (a local truffle hunter) and his trained dog, who sniffs out prized white truffles from the soil. It runs about 1.5 to 3 hours, usually ends with a tasting, and the white-truffle season peaks from October to December, the same window as the famous Alba Truffle Fair. Here is how it works and how to book one.

At a glance

What happens on a truffle hunt

You meet a trifolau, a hunter whose family has usually worked these woods for generations, and his dog (traditionally a Lagotto Romagnolo). You walk into the oak and hazel woods of the Langhe, and when the dog catches the scent it starts to dig: the hunter steps in, lifts the truffle out with a small spade called a vanghetto, and rewards the dog. A good guide explains how truffles grow underground in symbiosis with tree roots, why they cannot be farmed, and how to tell a real tartufo bianco (white truffle) from a lesser one by smell. Most hunts finish with a tasting: truffle shaved over eggs, tajarin pasta or cheese, often with a glass of Langhe wine.

When to go: white truffle season and the Alba fair

The white truffle (Tuber magnatum), the one that makes Alba famous and costs a small fortune, is in season from roughly late September to December, at its best in October and November. That is also when the Alba White Truffle Fair (Fiera del Tartufo) fills the town every weekend, with a sensory market where you can smell and buy fresh truffles. For the full season detail, see our Alba white truffle season guide. Black summer truffles are found in the warmer months, so a hunt runs much of the year, but autumn is the headline act.

Where the hunts happen

Most experiences are based around Alba and the surrounding Langhe hills: La Morra, Barolo, Barbaresco and the villages between them, the same slopes that grow Italy’s greatest Nebbiolo wines. That makes it easy to pair a morning truffle hunt with an afternoon of Barolo tasting. Many visitors base themselves in Alba or a Langhe village and fold the hunt into a wider food-and-wine trip through Piedmont.

How to choose and book

Pick by what you want from it: a short family-friendly hunt (about 90 minutes) is the cheapest and best for kids; a longer hunt with a full tasting or lunch costs more but turns it into the day’s main event. Check whether the tasting is included, the group size, and whether it runs in your language. Book ahead in October and November, as the good trifolau sell out during fair season. Our pick: the Langhe Truffle Hunting Tour (4.5★, from 69 EUR) is a great-value small-group hunt, and during fair season the Alba Truffle Fair guided tour adds the market. You can compare hunts and tastings on our truffle hunting tours hub, and read what else to eat in the region in our what to eat in Piedmont guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is truffle season in Piedmont?

The prized white truffle is in season from about late September to December, peaking in October and November, which is also when the Alba Truffle Fair runs. Black truffles are found in the warmer months.

How much does a truffle hunt in Alba cost?

Roughly 69 to 180 EUR per person, depending on the length, the group size and whether a tasting or lunch is included. Short group hunts are cheapest.

Do you keep the truffle you find?

Usually not the whole truffle, since a single white truffle can be very valuable, but you taste fresh truffle during the experience and can buy some to take home. Confirm with the operator when you book.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. Shorter hunts are popular with families, and watching the dog work is the highlight for most kids. Wear sturdy shoes for the woods.

Book a Piedmont truffle hunt

Compare hunts on our truffle hunting tours hub, plan the wider trip from the Piedmont food and wine page, or see what to eat in Piedmont.