I have been guiding tourists and other visitors to Ukraine since 1999. Initially I started as a translator, then interpreter, a guide and jack-of-all-trades for my customers, and finally a tour guide.

It is far more than translation that I offer now: I provide full service to a newcomer in Ukraine as well as to someone who has been around. This includes but is not limited to: helping to get around, finding accommodation, providing transportation, advising on local customs and ways, telling interesting facts and history, showing historical locations, sights, museums, making tours, arranging communication, hiring cars or being your driver, looking for people on your behalf (relatives, friends, business partners), introducing to Jewish/Greek/other heritage, researching genealogy and many other activities and needs you may have. So I am your ultimate guide, assistant and aide, and sometimes even a bodyguard while you are in Ukraine. I can be of help in case you are interested in:

• sightseeing, tourism, holiday-making, exploring culture, enjoying nature
• business, marketing
• genealogy, history, ancestry, searching for people
• romance, dating
• just having fun, eating out, clubbing, etc.

I used to have two homes: Odessa (where I was born) and the Crimea, and had shuttled between them every month until the war started in 2014. More than that, I have been to nearly all 25 of Ukraine's major towns and many smaller places, and I work anywhere you need me in Ukraine.

TWELVE COMMANDMENTS FOR CUSTOMERS
(DISCLAIMER)

1. Let me know how I can recognize you. Be precise about the meeting location. If you want me to have a sign with your name, let me know in advance. If you can't see me within 5 minutes, call me directly.
2. I cannot be held responsible if there is a problem with external services like taxis, restaurants, museums, etc. I do my best to make sure everything is smooth. But if something is not my fault, it is really NOT. Please do not give me a poor rating if a place happened to be closed! Choose the best start time for your tour wittingly and take into account opening hours. Contact me for details.
3. Tipping is not mandatory. In Ukraine you only tip if you actually like the service a lot and would rate it high here. However, it is best to leave a good review here instead.
4. I always try to do my best but anyone can make a mistake, and I can't read your mind. If there is a problem or you need something, let me know directly during the tour so that I can fix it. You are the boss!
5. My cars are not air-conditioned and not brand-new, there are no seat belts. They are classical cars from the 1960s in a very good running condition. If it is a problem I can arrange another car, but this will require a custom tour.
6. While driving I cannot talk and show sights as usual because I have to concentrate on driving. This is your safety.
7. When walking together in the town, do not get behind and stretch around; stay as close to me and others as possible. If I walk too fast for you, just tell me.
8. Make sure you all agree with your fellow travelers on everything.
9. Some locations might be skipped. Others might be added.
10. The tour duration is for reference; your actual tour may last longer or shorter. I don't sell hours but tours and experience.
11. If you are interested in particulars about a certain place please let me know in advance so that I can research it. I may not know absolutely everything about any location when asked off-hand. A guide is not a Doctor of Science in history!
12. Finally, please understand that this is Tours_By_LOCALS, and you should not expect everything to be like at home. Some things may be quite different, but please bear with that.

ATTENTION!!! BY BOOKING A TOUR WITH ME YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE FULLY READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED TO THE ABOVE, AND ARE GOING TO STICK TO IT WHILE ON THE TOUR AND LATER.

P. S. There might be other guides here who my customers could confuse with me because they have similar names. Please be careful: my name is Igor K. (not Iegor, etc. ).

- Certificate of Odessa State School of Foreign Languages, English Department, graduated in 1999,
- Certificate of the Guide School at Odessa National Economics University, graduated in 2011,
- Guide License 0113-2016 issued by Odessa Municipal Tourism Department.

• Call me if you don't see me in 5 minutes
• 0 responsibility for 3rd parties
• Something wrong? Tell me on the spot
• No A/C & belts in my car
• May not know everything about some places
• Some places may be skipped

If you have Jewish roots you may find it interesting to visit Odessa as this town once had the biggest Jewish community in the Russian Empire, and later in the Soviet Union too. In fact, there was a saying in Odessa: who is not a Jew in Odessa? While there have been a host of other nationalities in Odessa, and the language which is mainly spoken here is Russian, it cannot be denied that the Jewish influence on the culture and history of Odessa is great, and many of native Odessites do have Jewish ancestors even if they claim to be Russian or Ukrainian. Actually, the Russian language spoken in Odessa is quite different from that used in Russia, not the least because of the Jewish flavor.

There are many locations of Jewish Heritage in Odessa like synagogues, monuments, hospitals founded by Jews, etc. Some of the locations are historical but there are some that are used now like synagogues where you can meet local members of the Odessa Jewish Community. There is a museum dedicated to Jewish History of Odessa.

Odessa Jewish Heritage Half Day Tour

Odessa has many temples including Christian churches, cathedrals, and synagogues. Most of them are very old and are amazing inside as well as outside. So even if you are not religious it is worth seeing.

You will feel the diversity and tolerance of Odessa where 138 nations are the ethnical background and see the beauty of architecture ranging from the 18th century to the latest days.

Religious Odessa Half Day Tour

Odessa is a unique town: it has two parts, one is the public one for everyone which is on the ground and the other part is a mysterious underground town, an enormous network of man-made caves also known as the catacombs. Unlike other caves all the tunnels were carved by people. The network total explored length is about 2800 km!

This network has many secrets and is worth to see. For example, during the Cold War there were 361 antinuclear bunkers fitted out in the catacombs. In WWII the Resistance hid there. There was human trafficking in the 19th century. Etc.

There is a museums deep under ground where you you can see a bunker, WWII artefacts, fossilized bones 3. 5 mln yrs old, beautiful underground lakes and waterfalls, 19th century wall drawings and signs, hear legends, local jokes as well as true stories and history…

It is easy to get lost in the catacombs but you do not need to worry: the museum is made so that you cannot get lost (all side passages are sealed off). You just need to follow your guide.

Tour guide in Odessa Igor

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