The Russian Geographical Society organized an expedition in 1853–55 to survey the orography, geology and population of the Vilyuy and Chona basins.

It flows first eastwards for a short stretch, then it bends and heads roughly northwards and then northwestwards meandering across the uninhabited plateau area.

Finally the Killemtine bends to the west and joins the right bank of the Vakunayka 20 km (12 mi) from its mouth, right by the border between Irkutsk Oblast and Yakutia.

The river is fed by snow and rain and freezes between October and late May.

[3] The main tributary of the Killemtine is the 64 kilometres (40 mi) long Sugdyukan on the left.