Irina Yuzhakova
As a dedicated travel advisor, I curate highly personalized journeys that invite you to connect with the cultural heart of each place—beyond the typical tourist path. When you travel with my guidance, my trusted local connections and industry relationships open doors that most travelers never even know exist. Every experience is handpicked and personally tailored, offering you meaningful access to the soul of a destination.
In Portugal, you'll hike through Madeira’s cloud forests with a local naturalist who reveals the island’s hidden flora, stories, and untouched trails. You’ll celebrate Festas de Lisboa not from the sidelines, but as part of the community—dancing in Alfama under lanterns and live fado. Through my personal relationships with winemakers, I’ll arrange for you to cruise privately along the Douro River and enjoy a vineyard picnic where the quinta owner pours vintages rarely tasted by outsiders. You can step into a private tile workshop in Porto to design your own azulejo, guided by a master artisan. Or dine in a former olive press in Alentejo, where a slow-food chef prepares foraged dishes just for you.
In France, you’ll be invited into creative spaces that few ever access. I can arrange a private gallery visit in Paris’s Le Marais before opening hours, with a curator guiding you through emerging French artists—champagne included. You’ll explore behind closed doors of ateliers where Parisian bookbinders, glove-makers, or fashion designers continue age-old crafts. Want something truly immersive? Paint in the open air with a Montmartre artist, then enjoy an aperitif in their studio. Or walk through the Fondation Louis Vuitton on a private after-hours tour, led by an art historian who knows each piece and its story intimately.
And in Turkey, I can open the door to experiences most travelers never even hear about. Imagine standing on the sidelines of a traditional game of Cirit—a thrilling, fast-paced equestrian sport once played by Ottoman warriors. It’s not something found on most itineraries, but with the right local connections, I can take you there for an unforgettable glimpse into living history.
Or picture yourself face-to-face with the haunting gaze of the "Gypsy Woman"—the iconic mosaic hidden deep within the second largest mosaic museum in the world, in Gaziantep. I’ll make sure you don’t just see it but understand its cultural significance through a private guided visit designed around your interests.