Hidden roads are our home ground.

Ceylon Backroads is built by people who know Sri Lanka by dust, rain, river crossings, tea stops, and the quiet villages that appear when the main road disappears. We design private 4x4 journeys with local care, slow pacing, and a deep respect for the places that host us.

Anura Pallamulla, cofounder of Ceylon Backroads
Madura, cofounder of Ceylon Backroads

This is anura, he knows any
mountain you point to

This is madura, also a
nature freak

Our Story

Sri Lanka is a country filled with roads that many people never take, mountains that many have only seen from a distance, and hidden landscapes that rarely appear on ordinary travel maps. Our journey began with two travellers who believed that the real beauty of Sri Lanka is found beyond the usual tourist routes.

Anura Pallamulla began travelling at the age of 19, soon after completing his A/Ls. At first, he travelled in every way possible by train, bus, motorcycle, on foot, and by any route that allowed him to explore more of the island. As the years passed, his passion for travel only grew stronger. He saved money, bought a jeep, and continued to explore places that most people never visit.

Today, with more than 30 years of travel experience, Anura has developed a deep understanding of Sri Lanka's geography, landscapes, remote routes, and hidden destinations. His travels have taken him through mountain roads, forest tracks, rural villages, reservoirs, waterfalls, and off-road trails across the country.

Madura's journey is very similar. With the same love for exploration, nature, and adventure, he too spent years discovering Sri Lanka beyond the ordinary routes. About five years ago, Anura and Madura began travelling together. What started as a shared passion soon became a bigger idea.

Why We Started

After years of travelling, we realised something important: even after seeing so much of Sri Lanka, we had still only scratched the surface of its true beauty.

There are countless places across the island that remain unknown to most local and foreign travellers. Every year, many tourists visit the same popular destinations repeatedly, while some of the most beautiful and meaningful locations remain hidden, forgotten, or difficult to access.

We wanted to change that.

We also understood why many people do not visit these places. Some routes are remote, uncomfortable, or difficult to reach without the right vehicle and experience. Many travellers may hear about these locations or see them in photos and videos, but they may never get the chance to experience them safely and comfortably.

That is where our idea began.

Who We Are

We are a travel agency built by real travellers, not just tour planners.

Our purpose is to take you beyond the common tourist path and introduce you to the Sri Lanka that many people never get to see. We design journeys to hidden locations, remote viewpoints, backroads, waterfalls, reservoirs, mountain trails, rural landscapes, and off-the-map destinations that are often missed by ordinary tours.

We create travel experiences for people who want more than a normal holiday.