My name is Arthur Lookyanov. I have extensive experience working with foreign clients as a private guide and as a personal driver in Moscow, Russia. I have worked with overseas clients, tourists, and business people for more than 15 years, and have a solid background in organizing tours for my clients in Moscow, the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia, and of course in Crimea.
In addition to providing my clients with extensive tours around the Russian capital, I am also able to offer my services to people who wish to explore the exceptionally beautiful Crimean peninsula for nature, cultural and leisure activities.
I am fluent in conversational English, so you can rely on me to be your Russian-English translator. From our first meeting at Simferopol airport, I will be with you constantly providing transportation in my private crossover Honda CR-V, personalized tour services, and capturing the exciting moments of your journey on my professional Nikon D700 camera. My main goal is to make your stay in Crimea as comfortable and carefree as possible, which is why upon your request, I can help you with booking accommodation in either a good hotel or guesthouse in the different places of interest in Crimean peninsula, organize exciting cultural, hiking, boat tours with locals, or help you to find good restaurants or cafes to taste delicious Crimean-Tatar or Russian cuisines. I know the most beautiful and best attractions in Crimea and can plan interesting and complete sightseeing itineraries depending on your preferred actives and the available time.
So, are you ready to discover Crimea in a week with me? – Just send me your message/request from here right now or try to contact me another way using my contact information.
If you wish to find out more about me and my experience of working with overseas clients, please check the Testimonials from my clients at my website Moscow-Driver.com and on TripAdvisor.
Private Tour Guide – Flexible guide services providing tours that suit your interests, budget, and expectations;
Professional Photographer – Personal photography services capturing all the exciting and memorable moments of your trip using professional Nikon D700 camera;
Handling of Banking Issues – Solving problems for use of credit cards for foreign citizens in the Crimean peninsula due to sanctions;
Always Connected – Providing your personal smartphone with Russian SIM card for unlimited Internet coverage during your stay in Crimea;
Booking Accommodation – Assistance with booking quality hotels and guest houses in different locations in order to discover the best of the Crimean peninsula.
My mission is to improve the quality of your stay in the country, opening up new opportunities for a vacation in Russia. I am continually expanding and improving the range of tours and services I can provide for my valued clients. I am able to provide assistance with language barriers, problems with banks, and internet connections. You will always be in touch with the world during your stay in Crimea.
Just contact me and I will do everything in order to make your trip as unforgettable and enjoyable as possible without you needing to worry about anything.
The decorative castle “Swallow Nest” rising on the Aurora Cliff framed by plants in the background of the blue waters of the Black Sea. The small, neo-Gothic decorative castle was built in Gaspra (13 km from Yalta by car) in 1911-1912 closer in style to various German Gothic castle follies, such as Lichtenstein Castle, specifically to catch visitors’ attention with its fairy tale appearance. It is the most famous landmark and symbol of Crimea.
Photo #387 taken on August 14, 2019 in Gaspra on the 4th day of the adventure trip “Discovering Crimea in 6 Days” with my dear clients from Hong Kong, Esther and Ricky.
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Categories | Architectural, Landscapes |
Taken | August 14, 2019 |
Uploaded | March 28, 2021 |
View of rocks at the edge of “Limen-Burun”, the eastern spur of Cape Ai-Todor and a small rocky island called “Parus” (Sail), standing in front of it in the blue waters of the Black Sea. Limen (Liman) in Greek is a bay, a harbor cape. Here in the bay, there is a berth for pleasure boats and motor ships arriving to the famous castle “Swallow’s Nest” in Gaspra. In the photo you can see in the distance the silhouette of the famous Au-Dag Mountain (Mountain Bear), where the Gurzuf resort and the Artek International Children’s Camp are located.
Photo #382 taken on August 14, 2019 in Gaspra on the 4th day of the adventure trip “Discovering Crimea in 6 Days” with my dear clients from Hong Kong, Esther and Ricky.
Album | Crimean Landscapes |
Categories | Landscapes, Nature |
Taken | August 14, 2019 |
Uploaded | March 26, 2021 |
View from the observation platform at Alupkinskoye highway on the decorative castle “Swallow Nest” rising on the Aurora Cliff in the background of the blue waters of the Black Sea. The small, neo-Gothic decorative castle was built in Gaspra (13 km from Yalta by car) in 1911-1912 closer in style to various German Gothic castle follies, such as Lichtenstein Castle, specifically to catch visitors’ attention with its fairy tale appearance. It is the most famous landmark and symbol of Crimea.
Photo #432 taken on August 14, 2019 in Gaspra on the 4th day of the adventure trip “Discovering Crimea in 6 Days” with my dear clients from Hong Kong, Esther and Ricky.
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Categories | Architectural, Cultural, Landscapes |
Taken | August 14, 2019 |
Uploaded | March 20, 2021 |
Overview Gurzuf bay from Snegiri Guest House at sunset in summer. In the picture: Gurzuf settlement, Gurzuf bay and Adalary twin-rocks, and Mount Au-Dag (Bear Mountain) in the background. Gurzuf is the popular resort-town (urban-type settlement) located 11 km East from Yalta city.
Photo #320 taken on August 12, 2019 during adventure trip “Discovering Crimea within One Week” with my Dear clients from Hong Kong, Esther and Ricky.
Album | Gurzuf |
Categories | Landscapes, Nature |
Taken | August 12, 2019 |
Uploaded | March 19, 2021 |
The relief of the rocky coast of a small bay of Anton Chekhov in Gurzuf against the background of the famous twin rocks “Adalary”. In this bay, the famous Russian writer bought a small Tatar house (saklya) in late 1899, which became the place of his creative solitude. In a letter to his brother at the beginning of 1900, Anton Pavlovich describes his purchase: “A small bay with a beautiful view, its own cliffs, swimming, fishing, etc., etc.”
The twin cliffs Adalary is a visiting card of not only Gurzuf resort, the Southern coast of Crimea, but also the whole Crimea. The rocks are located some distance from the sea in front of the Artek International Children’s Center (the former famous pioneer camp in the USSR). On one of the cliffs, there is a tricolor, the national flag of Russia.
Photo #288 taken on August 13, 2019 during the tour of Dacha Chekhova in Gurzuf with my dear clients from Hong Kong, Esther and Ricky on the 3rd day of the adventure trip “Discovering Crimea in 6 Days”.
Album | Chekhov’s Dacha in Gurzuf |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | August 13, 2019 |
Uploaded | November 14, 2019 |
View from a hill on a pleasure boat returning back to a peer in the Gurzuf bay and seagulls flying over the Black sea.
Photo #304 taken on September 14, 2013
Album | Crimean Landscapes |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | September 14, 2013 |
Uploaded | November 12, 2019 |
View from Yuzhnoberezhnoye Shosse (South Coast Highway) near Gurzuf on the white clouds hovering over the Black Sea.
Photo #251 taken on September 14, 2013
Album | Crimean Landscapes |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | September 14, 2013 |
Uploaded | November 12, 2019 |
Crimean seascape with a nice seagull flying over Gurzuf Bay (town settlement near Yalta) under impressive white clouds over the Black sea.
Photo #103 taken on September 15, 2013
Album | Crimean Landscapes |
Categories | Landscapes, Nature |
Taken | September 15, 2013 |
Uploaded | November 11, 2019 |
A small yacht is sailing the Black Sea before the storm on in bay of Gurzuf, south coast of Crimea.
Photo #086 taken on September 15, 2013 from a terrace of a local restaurant “Salambo” located on the beach about 16 m (52 ft) above sea level.
Album | Crimean Landscapes |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | September 15, 2013 |
Uploaded | November 11, 2019 |
Beautiful landscape at the peak of Mount Ai-Petri (St. Peter) with the view of the Figured Teeth, the 60-80 m high ridges formed during the weathering of heterogeneous reef limestones, and the coast of Black sea where located resort settlements Koreiz (down at the left) and Alupka (down at the right).
Vorontsov Palace and Park, one of the oldest and largest palaces in Crimea, situated in Alupka, at the foot of Ai-Petri Mountain.
Photo #070 taken on May 04, 2017
Album | Ai-Petri Mountain |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 4, 2017 |
Uploaded | November 7, 2019 |
Overview Yalta Bay, Yalta city and its surroundings on the shore of Black Sea from Silver Arbor, the amazing observation spot located on the way to the peak of Mount Ai-Petri. Below the arbor is a waterfall Uchan-Su and magnificent centuries-old pine forest at the foot of the hill Pendikyul. The locks of love left by just married couples on the small fence protecting this observation deck. The Silver Arbor is an ecological and educational object located the Pendikul mountain at the height of 848 meters above sea level. The arbor was established in 1894 in honor of builders of the road Yalta – Ai-Petri – Bakhchisarai.
Photo #035 taken on May 04, 2017
Album | Ai-Petri Mountain |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 4, 2017 |
Uploaded | November 5, 2019 |
View from the observation area at the peak of Mount Ai-Petri on the Figured Teeth, the 60-80 m high ridges formed during the weathering of heterogeneous reef limestones, in the background of resort settlements Koreiz and Gaspra (far away) at 1200 meters above sea level. In a summer season, a rickety suspension bridge is set to the rock with a cross with the sign “Bless and Save”.
Photo #148 taken on May 04, 2017
Album | Ai-Petri Mountain |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 4, 2017 |
Uploaded | November 4, 2019 |
Amazing view from a parking area at Alupkinskoye highway on the decorative castle “Swallow Nest” rising on the Aurora Cliff above the blue waters of the Black Sea in early summer morning. The small, neo-Gothic decorative castle was built in Gaspra (13 km from Yalta by car) in 1911-1912 closer in style to various German Gothic castle follies, such as Lichtenstein Castle, specifically to catch visitors’ attention with its fairy tale appearance. It is the most famous landmark and symbol of Crimea.
Photo #005 taken on August 14, 2019 in Gaspra on the 4th day of the adventure trip “Discovering Crimea in 6 Days” with my dear clients from Hong Kong, Esther and Ricky.
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | August 14, 2019 |
Uploaded | October 26, 2019 |
Beautiful view at the beginning of hiking tour to the peak of Sokol mount on the Green Bay, Koba-Kaya Mountain (Mount Orel, Eagle), and resort settlement Novy Svet (New World).
Photo #083 taken on August 31, 2015
Album | Mount Falcon (Kush-Kaya) in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | August 31, 2015 |
Uploaded | October 23, 2019 |
My picture on the shore of the Black Sea in urban settlement Kurortnoye (Eng: Resort) near Koktebel in the background of the foot of the mountain massif Kara Dag (“Black Mount”; the nature preserve) at sunset.
Photo #098 taken on August 30, 2015
View from Baidarsky Pass on the Church of Christ’s Resurrection raising on the Red Cliff (Krasnaya Skala) over the low clouds at Foros settlement on the Black Sea in a spring season. The magnificent church, that combines Rastrelliesque Baroque, Russian Revival, and Byzantine Revival styles, was built in 1892 by the project of Russian architect Nikolai Chagin on the abrupt 400-meter (1312 ft) cliff. Alexander Kuznetsov, the Moscow merchant and the Russian “tea king” who had his palace built on the seashore, commissioned Nikolai Chagin, the celebrated architect from Wilno, to built the church of Christ’s Resurrection in memory of the miraculous rescue of Emperor Alexander III and his family in 1888 train crash in the Borki, on the way to St. Petersburg. The temple is notable for its luxurious exterior and picturesque interior.
Founded and named by medieval Greek merchants, Foros settlement was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Alexander Kuznetsov. It is located at the most Southern coast of Crimean Peninsula, in the middle between Yalta and Sevastopol.
Photo #593 taken on May 05, 2017
Album | Foros Church of the Resurrection of Christ |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | May 5, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 20, 2019 |
Evening view from the observation platform at Staroye Svestopolskoye Shosse (Old Sevastopol Highway) on the Church of Christ’s Resurrection rising on the high Red Cliff over covered with low clouds (fog) the Black Sea in the twilight. A car light trail on the curved mountain road to the church gives an additional touch to this landscape composition.
Photo #802 taken on May 05, 2017
Album | Foros Church of the Resurrection of Christ |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | May 5, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 20, 2019 |
The view details of the architecture of a neo-gothic castle “Swallow’s Nest” (Russian: Lastochkino Gnezdo) in Gaspra from a back side. It looks like the decorative castle is sailing to the Black sea.
Swallow’s Nest is the symbol of the south coast of Crimea located between Yalta and Alupka. The beautiful castle was constructed on a rock by design of the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood between 1911 and 1912 on money commissioned from the owner of this land, Baron von Steingel, a Baltic German noble who had made a fortune extracting oil in Baku, acquired the timber cottage and within a year had it replaced with the current building almost within a year.
In 2011, after 3 months of restoration work estimated to cost $150,000 USD, it was opened as museum. The Swallow’s Nest is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Crimea, becoming the symbol of the Crimea’s southern coastline.
Photo #032 taken on September 12, 2013
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | September 12, 2013 |
Uploaded | October 19, 2019 |
The decorative Neo-Gothic castle “Swallow’s Nest” (Russian: Lastochkino Gnezdo) is the symbol of the south coast of Crimea located between Yalta and Alupka. The beautiful castle was constructed by design of the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood between 1911 and 1912 on money commissioned from the owner of this land, Baron von Steingel, a Baltic German noble who had made a fortune extracting oil in Baku, acquired the timber cottage and within a year had it replaced with the current building almost within a year.
In 2011, after 3 months of restoration work estimated to cost $150,000 USD, it was opened as museum. The Swallow’s Nest is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Crimea, becoming the symbol of the Crimea’s southern coastline.
Photo #058 taken on September 12, 2013
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | September 12, 2013 |
Uploaded | October 19, 2019 |
View from the top of Aurora Cape on the Neo-Gothic castle “Swallow’s Nest” (Russian: “Lastochkino Gnezdo”) under a blue sky with fluffy white clouds in the background of the water of the Black Sea and the bay of Yalta city in Autumn season. The castle is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Crimea, becoming the symbol of the Crimea’s southern coastline. It was constructed by the design of the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood between 1911 and 1912 on the money of Baron von Steingel.
Photo #068 taken on September 12, 2013
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | September 12, 2013 |
Uploaded | October 19, 2019 |
Angle view of the decorative Neo-Gothic castle “Swallow’s Nest” (Russian: Lastochkino Gnezdo) at twilight. It is the symbol of the south coast of Crimea located in Gaspra, between Yalta and Alupka. The beautiful castle was constructed by design of the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood between 1911 and 1912 on money commissioned by the owner of this land, Baron von Steingel, a Baltic German noble who had made a fortune extracting oil in Baku, acquired the timber cottage and within a year had it replaced with the current building almost within a year.
In 2011, after 3 months of restoration work estimated to cost $150,000 USD, it was opened as a museum. The Swallow’s Nest is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Crimea, becoming the symbol of the Crimea’s southern coastline.
Photo #714 taken on May 02, 2017
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | May 2, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 19, 2019 |
Beautiful view from a top of Aurora Cliff of Ai-Todor Cape in Gaspra on the Neo-Gothic castle situated on the steep 40-metre (130 ft) high rock in background of Black Sea and illuminated Yalta Bay in evening twilight. The beautiful castle was constructed by design of the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood in Neo-Gothic style between 1911 and 1912. It became one of the most popular visitor attractions in Crimea and the symbol of Crimea’s southern coastline.
Photo #728 taken on May 02, 2017
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | May 2, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 19, 2019 |
Decorative castle Swallow’s Nest (Lastochkino Gnezdo) castle on a rock over the Black Sea in spring twilight. The small castle resembling a medieval knight’s castle situated on the steep 40-metre (130 ft) high Aurora Cliff of Ai-Todor Cape in Gaspra near Great Yalta. The beautiful castle was constructed by design of the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood in Neo-Gothic style between 1911 and 1912. It became one of the most popular visitor attractions in Crimea and the symbol of Crimea’s southern coastline.
Photo #731 taken on May 02, 2017
Album | Swallow’s Nest Castle in Gaspra |
Category | Architectural |
Taken | May 2, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 19, 2019 |
View from a terrace of Dacha Chekhova (Chekhov’s summer residence) on the picturesque bay (very often called Bay of Quietness) framed by trees. The small secret dacha of the famous Russian writer is located in Gurzuf, the resort in Southern part of Crimea near Yalta city.
The Adalary twin-rocks can be seen from this bay and appear far away in the background of this picture.
Photo #055 taken on September 10, 2013
Album | Chekhov’s Dacha in Gurzuf |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | September 10, 2013 |
Uploaded | October 15, 2019 |
The view on the edge of the ancient coral reef of the Jurassic period, the mount Karaul-Oba (Tatar: Qaravul Oba, Russian: Karaulnaya), from Cape Kapchik, located a few kilometers westwards from Novy Svet (New World) settlement, on the tourist path of Golitsyn. The Karaul-Oba massif with its mystic rocky ledges is the state complex natural monument. Almost from the very sea, sharp teeth of the cliffs are jutting out, that is a distinctive feature of the mountain. ‘Karaul-Oba’ means ‘Watch Mountain’ or ‘Guard Peak’ in Crimean Tatar. It is reckoned among many unique natural wonders of Sudak’s surroundings.
Photo #079 taken on May 01, 2017
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 1, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |
View of a boat with tourists entering the Blue Bay (Golubaya Buhta) in Novy Svet (New World), where located the famous Tsar beach in Suzdak district in Crimea. The sharp teeth of the cliffs of the mount Karaul-Oba (Tatar: Qaravul Oba, Russian: Karaulnaya) are in the background of the picture. This ancient 341-meter-high coral reef of the Jurassic period (341 m.) has rather a complicated specific structure: plateau-like area with rock walls, crevices, ridges, stone labyrinths are replaced by deep long saddles. The rocky ledges of Karaul-Oba massif is a State complex natural monument and reckoned among many unique natural wonders of Sudak’s surroundings.
Photo #095 taken on May 01, 2017
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 1, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |
View on the famous Golitsyn trail and rocky beach with small cave near settlement Novy Svet (New World) near the cape Kapchik.
Novy Svet (New World) settlement is the well-known resort in Sudak district, the South-eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula, Black Sea, Russian Federation, that boasts its beautiful landscapes, mountains, beaches and factory of sparkling vines established by Prince Lev Golitsyn in 1878.
Photo #150 taken on May 01, 2017
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 1, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |
Walking between rocks along the famous trail Golitsyn to the cape Kapchik and the mount Karaul-Oba (Karaulnaya), the ancient 341-meter-high coral reef of the Jurassic period., located near Novy Svet (New World) settlement.
Novy Svet (New World) settlement is the well-known resort in Sudak district, the South-eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula, Black Sea, Russian Federation, that boasts its beautiful landscapes, mountains, beaches and factory of sparkling vines established by Prince Lev Golitsyn in 1878.
Photo #160 taken on May 01, 2017
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 1, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |
Walking along the famous trail Golitsyn to the cape Kapchik near Novy Svet (New World) settlement, the well-known resort in the South-eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula, Black Sea, Russian Federation.
Photo #040 taken on May 01, 2017
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 1, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |
View from Golitsyn trail at the rocky seashore near Novy Svet (New World) settlement on the Cape Kapchik that resembles a head with long neck of a huge dinosaur drinking water from the Black Sea, in the old times, called the Russian Sea.
Photo #162 taken on May 01, 2017
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | May 1, 2017 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |
Golubaya Buhta (Blue Bay) is a captivating area of the Crimean coastline of Novy Svet (New World). On the steep slope of this rocky yet beautiful coastline grows a rare and solitary Stankevich pine tree that is endemic to Sudak (the south Crimean coast).
Also located in Golubaya Buhta (Blue Bay) is the famous Tsraskiy Plyazh (The Tsar’s Beach), so named because this was where Nicholas II enjoyed to swim during his visit to Novy Svet in 1912.
Photo #086 taken on September 02, 2015
Album | Golitsyn Trail in Novy Svet |
Category | Landscapes |
Taken | September 2, 2015 |
Uploaded | October 7, 2019 |