3 Days in Paradise: Truffle Hunting, Cooking Class, and Italian Dinner at UNESCO's Val d'Orcia

About

Spend three days in paradise in Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and learn about Italian cuisine! 

You'll stay at a magical location in a big mansion that has just been renovated. Each room has a private bathroom and stunning views of the Tuscan hills and cypress trees. During the night, you'll be able to see an amazing starry sky. It's the perfect place to relax, get in touch with mother nature and have a wonderful time eating delicious Italian meals

When you arrive in the afternoon on the first day, you'll be greeted with an aperitivo and delicious Italian snacks. In the evening you'll be able to relax in the serenity of the Tuscan nature. 

The next day, you'll go truffle hunting after a healthy breakfast. You'll learn all the secrets behind finding and cooking excellent truffles! In the woods, two professional truffle hunters will help you on your quest: Milly and Pippo. Their sensitive noses know how to sniff out truffles for you to collect ("marzolino" or "bianchetto" truffle from the end of January till the mid of April, "scorzone", black summer truffle from the beginning of June until mid-September, and from mid-September till the end of December the famous white truffle). Make sure you bring comfortable clothes and shoes, as you need to follow the dogs towards the truffles. 

After an active day in the woods, you'll return to the mansion for a solid lunch (all the menus can be adjusted to be vegetarian or vegan!). Until dinner, the rest of the day is free to spend how you wish. 

There're a lot of interesting activities in the area; take an air balloon trip, visit Canteen or a monastery, go hiking, rent a motor or bicycle and take the famous Crete Senesi route, visit natural hot springs or Monte Amiata, Italy's oldest extinct volcano, or go visit San Giovanni d'Asso's Truffle Museum. The possibilities are endless! Just make sure you'll be back in time for a nice Italian homecooked dinner. 

On the last day, you'll get your hands dirty, but this time in the kitchen. During three distinct cooking classes, you'll learn how to cook three traditional Italian dishes: "tiramisu", "focaccia", and fresh pasta with "ragù".

The day will end with the enjoyment of your creations, accompanied by delicious Italian wine! 

NOTE: It's possible to stay an extra night (without activities). If you wish to do so, please indicate this when you book.

Menu

Day 1:

• Dinner:
  • Italian aperitivo
  • Cheese and meat board
  • Homemade bread and focaccia 
  • Pasta Alla Carbonara 
  • Seasonal vegetables
  • Homemade Cantucci 
  • Biscotti Toscani
• Drinks: 
  • Water, wine

Day 2:

• Breakfast: 
  • Fruits
  • Homemade bread
  • Eggs
  • Cakes
  • Coffee, tea, and juice
• Truffle Lunch: 
  • Pecorino Bruschetta 
  • Marzuolo truffle
  • Pasta Tagliolini 
  • Ricotta mousse dessert
• Dinner: 
  • Pollo al Forno con Patate
• Drinks:
  • Water, wine

Day 3:

• Breakfast: 
  • Fruits 
  • Homemade bread 
  • Eggs
  • Cakes
  • Coffee, tea, and juice
• Lunch: 
  • Homemade Focaccia
  • Fresh pasta with real Ragù
  • Tiramisu
• Drinks:
  • Water, wine

Schedule

Day 1

• 6:00 pm: Welcome Italian aperitivo snack and drinks, follow by social dinner.

Day 2

• 9:00 am: Breakfast on the terrace.
• 10:30 am: Truffle hunting in the woods, get comfortable clothes and shoes, you need to follow the dogs
• 1:00 pm: Lunch at Crete Senesi Trattoria
• 2:00 pm: Free time - spend it as you wish
• 08:00 pm: Dinner 

Day 3

• 9:00 am: Breakfast
• 10:30 am: Start cooking class I: Tiramisu
• 11:30 am: Start cooking class II: Focaccia
• 12:30 pm: Start cooking class III: Fresh Pasta and the real Ragù
• 1:30 pm: Little celebration with aperitivo
• 2:00 pm: Lunch with our creation
• 3:00 pm: End of experience