Twelve teams of two people set off from Seattle, Washington to Juyongguan, China. One of the teams is eliminated at an overnight hold in Beijing, while the other teams have to scale the Great Wall Of China to reach the Pit Stop.

The ten remaining teams travel from Juyongguan, China to Terelj, Mongolia. One team goes into an emotional tailspin after being thrown from their horse. Alliances start to form between several of the teams.

The nine remaining teams travel from Terelj, Mongolia to Vác, Vietnam. Tempers flare among some of the teams. A wrong bus choice causes one team to be left behind in Hanoi.

The six remaining teams travel from Kuwait City, Kuwait to Bel Ombre, Mauritius. On the road to Case Noyale, one team has a major scare when they crash their car into a bus.

The six teams travel from Bel Ombre, Mauritius to Antananarivo, Madagascar. Another new twist forces two rival teams into a temporary alliance.

The five teams continue the leg by travelling from Helsinki, Finland to Kiev, Ukraine, where they unleash their inner musicians at the Detour.

The four remaining teams travel from Kiev, Ukraine to the outskirts of Marrakech, Morocco. Animosity escalates between the teams and one team realises how high the stakes have become.

The four teams travel from the outskirts of Marrakech, Morocco to Barcelona, Spain. In Casablanca, one person from each team gets in touch with their adventurous appetite and inner chef at the Road Block.

The final three teams travel from Barcelona, Spain through France to Garrison, New York, knowing that every decision that they make along the way is critical. The first team to arrive at the finish line wins the US$1 million prize.