It has its origin in the southern slopes of the Stanovoy Range, at the confluence of rivers Ayumkan and Kun-Manyo.

In its upper course the river flows fast roughly in an ESE direction across taiga-covered mountains within a clearly defined valley.

At the eastern end of the range the river turns southeastwards and enters a floodplain, slowing down and flowing among marshes for a relatively short distance.

[1][4] The main tributaries of the Maya are the Yalun, Ayumkan and Edegu-Chaidakh (Эдэгу-Чайдах) from the right, and the Ataga, Salga, Limnu, Cheborkan and Kononny from the left.

[1] Lenok, taimen, whitefish, burbot and grayling are among the common fish species in the waters of the Maya river.