Twelve teams of two people line up at the start on the Los Angeles River, but in a surprise twist, the team that fails to complete the first task is eliminated without leaving the country. The eleven remaining teams travel to Tokyo, Japan, where one person from each team becomes a Japanese game show contestant at the Road Block, then to Cái Bè, Vietnam, where they have to face mud, sweat and tears as they take part in a local farmer's festival. Written by Allister Coots

The ten remaining teams stay in Vietnam as they travel from My Tho to Ho Chi Minh City. The teams struggle to combat Vietnam's hectic pace, and when one team offers to help another, they put their own race in jeopardy.

The nine remaining teams travel from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The joy of a victory rapidly turns sour for one team when they cannot find one of their passports.

The eight remaining teams travel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where they battle blistering heat while searching the sand dunes for water at the Road Block.

The seven remaining teams stay in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the strong heat puts their endurance to the test at the Detour.

The six remaining teams travel from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Vierhuizen de Marne, Netherlands. One team becomes brave enough to reveal a personal secret to the others. As the race's stress goes up, another person breaks down in tears. Written by Allister Coots

The five remaining teams travel from Vierhuizen de Marne, Netherlands to Stockholm, Sweden, where they return to one of the most infamous Road Blocks. A lack of cooperation hinders the efforts of one team at an explosive Detour.

The five teams travel from Stockholm, Sweden to Tallinn, Estonia. A rivalry between two of the teams culminates in a very physical run to the Pit Stop.

The four remaining teams travel from Tallinn, Estonia to Prague, Czech Republic. When one team goes back on their word, tempers flare up, while a stolen taxi sends another team spiraling into last.

The four teams stay in Prague, Czech Republic. When one team is unable to complete the Road Block, they choose to take a time penalty. Another team has to dodge intoxicated locals at the Detour.

The final three teams travel from Prague, Czech Republic to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they have to count a maddening amount of poker chips before they receive the location of the finish line from the man nicknamed Mr. Las Vegas. The first team to arrive at the finish wins the US$1 million prize. Written by Allister Coots