It has its sources in the Bolshoy Tutura Lake, Kachugsky District, to the NNE of Irkutsk.

It flows first westwards, then in its middle course it heads in a roughly northern direction across the highland area.

In its lower reaches its channel widens and near Chikan village it turns WSW, meandering across a floodplain.

Finally the Tutura meets the right bank of the Lena by Zhigalovo, the administrative center of Zhigalovsky District, 3,812 kilometres (2,369 mi) from its mouth.

[1][5] The vegetation of the Tutura river basin is characterized by mountain taiga.