Upstream, tugs can haul barges as far as the Baikal Amur Mainline (BAM), but this is becoming rare.

The Vitim is an excellent place for adventure rafting, but is rarely visited because of its isolation.

Baissa, one of the famous localities of fossil insects is situated on the left bank of the Vitim River.

[5] Formerly, because of its swift current, goods were hauled 144 kilometres (89 mi) overland from Chita to Romanovka.

About 40 kilometres (25 mi) or so upstream, the Vitim is crossed by the Baikal Amur Mainline between Taksimo and Kuanda.

South through the Stanovoy Mountains toward Chita, then west into the Vitim Plateau east of Lake Baikal.