Our Story
Elyra began with a simple belief: the best journeys aren't bought off a shelf. They're shaped, slowly, around the people taking them.
We plan trips the way we'd want to travel.
Elyra was founded by two friends who met on a night train through the Sri Lankan hills. One was a hotelier, the other a guide - and both were tired of watching travelers rush past the very moments that make a place unforgettable.
Twelve years later we're a studio of designers, writers and local experts across four continents. We still plan every journey from a blank page, still visit every hotel we recommend, and still believe the best itinerary leaves a little room for wonder.
Amaya & Daniel, foundersFour promises, every journey.
Slow by design
Fewer stops, longer stays. We build in the unhurried hours where the real memories happen.
Local, always
Locally owned stays, guides paid fairly and money that stays in the communities you visit.
Honest advice
If a place isn't right for you, we'll say so - even if it's the one on every list.
Lighter footprint
Every journey is carbon-balanced, and we favour rail over short-haul flights wherever we can.
The road so far.
A night train & an idea
Elyra opens a two-desk studio in Colombo, designing journeys across Sri Lanka.
Into Asia & Europe
Japan, Vietnam and Italy join the map, with guides we still work with today.
A pause to reimagine
We use the quiet years to rebuild around slower, lower-impact travel.
Carbon-balanced journeys
Every itinerary is now carbon-balanced through verified local projects.
Twelve countries, one studio
4,800 travelers later, we're still planning every trip from a blank page.
Meet your travel designers.
Each one specialises in a region - and has the stamps in their passport to prove it.
Amaya Perera
Co-founder · South Asia
Daniel Mwangi
Co-founder · Africa
Eleni Markou
Designer · Europe
Kenji Moriyama
Designer · East AsiaIn good company.
