01Follow the scent
Walk with a local guide and trained dogs. Watch for the moment a dog’s easy wandering becomes focused attention. The truffle is hidden beneath the ground; the dog makes the first connection.
MOTOVUN · THE HEART OF ISTRIA
The secret
beneath Istria.
A forest. A dog with an extraordinary nose. And a discovery you will remember long after the last taste. This is your guide to truffle hunting in Motovun.
Explore the field guideMeet the Kotiga familyMOTOVUN
ISTRA · ISTRIA
ISTRA · ISTRIA
A DIFFERENT WAY TO DISCOVER ISTRIA
Go beyond the view.
Motovun draws your eyes up to the hilltop. Truffle hunting asks you to look a little closer: at the forest floor, the movement of a dog, the hands of someone who knows this place. Come with curiosity. Leave with a story.
Motovun, above the Mirna valleyMOTOVUN TRUFFLES
01 / THE PLACE
A hilltop town. A forest full of possibility.
The Motovun forest follows the Mirna valley beneath one of Istria’s distinctive hilltop towns. It is the setting for a tradition that brings together local knowledge, patient searching and the remarkable sense of smell of trained dogs.
Use Motovun as the starting point for your visit. Arrange the actual meeting place with your hosts: the town, the family’s accommodation and the hunting location are different parts of the day.
02 / THE EXPERIENCE
The dogs lead. You discover.
A hunt is an encounter with a living landscape. Each visit follows the conditions of the day.
01
02Understand the find
Let your guide explain what happens next. The interest is in the craft as much as the discovery: the relationship with the dogs, the ground and the seasons. A particular find is never guaranteed.
03Taste the connection
Ask about continuing the experience with a tasting at Miro Tartufi. Seeing how the family uses truffles gives the forest story a delicious second chapter. Confirm the menu and any dietary needs with your hosts.
03 / THE SEASONS
Nature keeps its own calendar.
Different truffles belong to different parts of the year. Choose the atmosphere you love, then ask the family what is in season and what an experience can include.
AUTUMN
The white-truffle season
Istria’s tourism board describes September to December as the white-truffle season. Weather and natural conditions still shape each visit; these months are a seasonal guide, not a promise of a find.
Istria Tourist Board ENSUMMER & WINTER
The world of black truffles
Different black-truffle species have different seasons. Miro’s own truffle guide distinguishes summer black truffles from winter black truffles. Ask which fresh truffles are available around your chosen date.
Miro Tartufi’s truffle guide ENTour availability, the route and tasting details must always be confirmed with the hosts.
04 / PRACTICAL NOTES
A little preparation. A better day.
The forest is part of the experience. Plan for the ground and the weather, as well as the tasting afterwards.
Wear shoes for the woods
Choose sturdy footwear and practical layers. The Istria tourism board recommends boots and robust long sleeves; the forest ground can be moist.
Tell the family who is coming
Share the number of adults and children, and ask about the route, walking conditions and suitability for your group. Mention any mobility needs before booking.
Confirm the details that matter
Ask for the meeting point, starting time, duration, guiding language, price and cancellation arrangements. Website languages and guiding languages are separate things.
Leave room for nature
Weather can affect a forest visit. Agree with your hosts how changes are handled, and keep the rest of your day relaxed enough to enjoy the experience.
Miro & Mirjana Kotiga · Your hosts at Miro Tartufi
05 / THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE EXPERIENCE
A place means more
when someone shares it.
Meet Miro and Mirjana Kotiga. Their family story connects truffle hunting, the kitchen and welcoming guests to Motovun. Miro Tartufi is where this guide leads you for the actual experience, personal arrangements and booking enquiries.
Step into the family’s worldMiro & Mirjana06 / STAY A LITTLE LONGER
Let Motovun be more than a stop.
After the forest, give yourself time for the town. The Kotiga family also welcomes guests at Bella Vista Apartments and Casa Rodeli. Explore the accommodation on their main website and ask about combining a stay with a truffle experience.
Find your stay with the familyCombined stays are arranged on request. The family confirms accommodation, availability, inclusions and the total price.
CASA RODELI · MOTOVUNA FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Before curiosity becomes a plan.
With the Kotiga family at Miro Tartufi. Follow a planning link to their website, choose your experience and prepare an enquiry. This guide helps you discover and plan; your hosts confirm the visit directly.
A forest is a natural environment, so a particular find cannot be promised. The experience is also about understanding the dogs, the search and the local knowledge behind it.
Ask the family before booking, sharing the children’s ages and your group’s needs. They can confirm the route, walking conditions and whether the proposed visit is suitable.
Yes, you can request a combined experience and stay through the family’s main website. The overnight ideas are subject to the hosts’ confirmation of availability, inclusions and price.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
Take your curiosity into the forest.
Choose a date, tell the family who is coming, and let them help you plan your visit.
Plan a hunt with the Kotiga familyContinue to Miro Tartufi · Enquiries and arrangements directly with your hosts