A significant number of flights arrive at SEZ late in the evening. The major Gulf carriers — Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways — operate schedules that put passengers on Mahe between 9 PM and midnight. Ethiopian Airlines flights sometimes arrive even later. If you are landing after dark, here is what the experience looks like.
The airport at night
The terminal stays open for all scheduled arrivals. Immigration and customs operate normally, though the pace can slow when multiple wide-body aircraft land within the same hour. Three flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha arriving between 10 PM and midnight means hundreds of passengers funneling through the same immigration hall.
Budget 30-45 minutes from touchdown to the arrivals hall during these busy late windows. The commercial counters — SIM cards, currency exchange — may close by 11 PM, so if you need a SIM card, have a backup plan or buy one the next day.
Taxi availability after dark
This is the main concern. The Seychelles has a limited fleet of taxis, and late-night availability at the airport is genuinely constrained. When a large flight lands, the first passengers out of customs take the available taxis, and others must wait for vehicles to return from drop-offs.
Waits of 20-30 minutes are not unusual for late arrivals. If two large flights land close together, the wait can be longer. There is no Uber or ride-hailing alternative.
Taxi fares at night are the same as during the day — the rate card applies regardless of the hour.
Public transport at night
Buses do not operate after approximately 7 PM. This option is not available for any evening arrival.
Pre-booked transfers at night
A pre-booked transfer is the standard recommendation for any SEZ arrival after 8 PM, and it is especially important here because the alternatives are limited. Your driver is assigned to your flight, monitors its arrival time, and waits in the arrivals area. Whether your flight lands at 10 PM or is delayed to 1 AM, a vehicle is there for you.
The price is the same as a daytime booking. There is no late-night surcharge with most transfer providers.
Driving on Mahe at night
Mahe's roads are unlit in many areas, particularly on the mountain routes to the west and south coasts. The roads are narrow, with steep drops on one side and rock walls on the other. Professional drivers handle these routes daily and know every curve. For a visitor driving a rental car at midnight after a 10-hour flight, these same roads can be genuinely challenging.
Letting a local driver handle the night drive is not just convenient — it is meaningfully safer.
What to do if you cannot get transport
If you arrive without a booking and taxis are unavailable, ask the tourist information desk (if still open) or your hotel for assistance. Some hotels will dispatch a vehicle if called. The airport is small and safe — waiting inside for 20-30 minutes is not uncomfortable, just tedious.
Practical advice
Book a transfer before you fly. Share your flight number with the provider so they can track arrival time. Have your hotel address and the driver's phone number accessible without Wi-Fi. Carry some cash in case you need a taxi as backup. And if possible, choose a flight that arrives before 9 PM — the experience is noticeably smoother.