Altay City has a small airport with connections to Urumqi (around one hour), which has onward flights to major Chinese cities and some international destinations. The flight to Urumqi is the most practical option — the road journey from Urumqi takes nine to twelve hours depending on conditions.
By road, National Highway 216 (the Junggar Road) runs north from Urumqi through Changji and Fuyun before reaching Altay City. The route is scenic and driveable in summer but can be treacherous in winter. Long-distance buses connect Altay to Urumqi, Fuyun, and other prefecture towns, though journeys are slow and schedules irregular.
The Kanas Lake area is reached from Jiadengyu, about 150 km north of Altay City. Minibuses and private cars make this run in summer. Kanas Scenic Area has its own small airport near Jiadengyu with limited seasonal flights from Urumqi — useful but unreliable; confirm before planning around them.
A police permit is required for travel in certain border areas of the prefecture, especially near Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. These are generally issued readily but require advance planning.