Eleven teams of two people set off from the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles, California to Connemara, Ireland. One team takes a taxi booked by another team. Teams face a daunting high-wire bike challenge at the Road Block.
The seven remaining teams travel from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to Rumsiskes, Lithuania. When the intensity of the race causes one team to lose their focus, they find themselves on a collision course with a speeding bus.
The six remaining teams travel from Rumsiskes, Lithuania to Dubrovnik, Croatia. One of the stronger teams risks elimination after making a costly mistake. Another team falls apart when some precise teamwork is required at the Detour.
The five remaining teams travel from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Florence, Italy. Fatigue and stress cause one team to break down. Another team take some drastic measures in order to improve their position in the race. A new twist is revealed for the last team to reach the Pit Stop.
The five teams travel from Florence, Italy to Mumbai, India. When one person shows signs of his former self, progress in his team's relationship comes to a halt. Another team resort to performance art in an attempt to throw off their competitors.
The four remaining teams travel from Mumbai, India to Osaka, Japan. One person becomes physically exhausted and unable to perform the Road Block. Another person blows a gasket after their team are dropped off at the wrong part of the airport by their taxi driver.
The four teams travel from Osaka, Japan to Taipei, Taiwan. One person celebrates their birthday on this leg, but the only present she wants is a place in the final three.
The final three teams travel from Taipei, Taiwan to Anchorage, Alaska. The pressure mounts as one team that normally works well together hit a major bump in the road, while a misread clue threatens the position of another team. The first team to arrive at the finish line wins the US$1 million prize.
