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''The Amazing Race 14'' is the fourteenth season of the American
reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
show ''
The Amazing Race ''The Amazing Race'' is an adventure reality game show franchise in which teams of two people race around the world in competition with other teams. The ''Race'' is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in forei ...
''. It featured eleven teams of two competing in a race around the world. The season premiered on
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
on February 15, 2009, and the season finale aired on May 10, 2009. Siblings Tammy and Victor Jih were the winners of this season, while former cheerleaders Jaime Edmondson and Cara Rosenthal finished in second place, and mother and son Margie and Luke Adams finished in third.


Production


Development and filming

''The Amazing Race 14'' lasted for 22 days and traveled over . The teams raced in nine countries, including
Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
and the
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n region of
Siberia Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part of ...
for the first time. In an interview, executive producer
Bertram van Munster Bertram van Munster (born 1940) is a Dutch-born American co-creator and executive producer of ''The Amazing Race''. He is also the creator of ''Profiles from the Front Line'' and was the Executive Producer on ''Oprah's Big Give'' and ''Take the M ...
revealed that the teams took a 13-hour train ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR; , , ) connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway line in the world. It runs from the city of Moscow in the west to the city of Vladivostok in the ea ...
and got into a Siberian
snowstorm A winter storm is an event in which wind coincides with varieties of precipitation that only occur at freezing temperatures, such as snow, Rain and snow mixed, mixed snow and rain, or freezing rain. In temperate continental climates, these sto ...
with below-zero temperatures. He also revealed that the teams suffered extreme climates, intense Roadblocks, and less time in airports, which added up to an exhausting course for the racers. In addition,
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
revealed the season included the world's second tallest
bungee jump Bungee jumping (), also spelled bungy jumping, is an activity that involves a person jumping from a great height while connected to a large elastic cord. The launching pad is usually erected on a tall structure such as a building or crane, a ...
, suffocating heat in India, and an
Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
-themed challenge that left the teams "gasping for air." The show's route map was updated via
Google Earth Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...
, and according to van Munster prior to the show's debut, the season included new graphics, a new opening sequence, and a tuneup in the musical score, as well as the use of a
split screen Split screen may refer to: * Split screen (computing), dividing graphics into adjacent parts * Split screen (video production), the visible division of the screen * ''Split Screen'' (TV series), 1997–2001 * Split-Screen Level, a bug in the vid ...
to show several scenes at the same time. Season 14 introduced a new twist to the
U-Turn A U-turn in driving refers to performing a 180° rotation to reverse the direction of travel. It is called a "U-turn" because the maneuver looks like the letter U. In some areas, the maneuver is illegal, while in others, it is treated as a m ...
: the Blind U-Turn, in which a team could use it anonymously; other U-Turns required teams to acknowledge their use to subsequent teams. Leg 10 was a double-length leg: a surprise feature of every season from
season 6 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and po ...
to season 10. However, this double-length leg was the first where it was revealed to the teams at a location that was explicitly called a pit stop, but teams were not warned of an elimination in the clue. After checking in, teams were told "this leg of the race is not over" and were given a clue by
Phil Keoghan Philip John Keoghan ( ; born 31 May 1967) is a New Zealand television personality, best known for hosting the American version of ''The Amazing Race'' on CBS, since its 2001 debut. He is the creator and host of ''No Opportunity Wasted'', whic ...
to continue racing. This was the last season to feature a double-length leg until season 32, where it was renamed the mega leg. Mel & Mike confirmed in a post-show interview that there was an unaired and unused Fast Forward in Leg 7 that involved purchasing items for an orphanage using the team's own money.


Cast

One member of the cast, Luke Adams, was the first
deaf Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an Audiology, audiological condition. In this context it ...
contestant in the American series and relied on his mother to communicate in the competition. Margie & Luke had originally applied to be on '' The Amazing Race: Family Edition'' (along with two other family members), but ended up being one of the last families cut. Mike White had originally been chosen to participate on ''
The Amazing Race 13 ''The Amazing Race 13'' is the thirteenth season of the American reality television show ''The Amazing Race''. It featured eleven teams of two competing in a race around the world. The season premiered on CBS on September 28, 2008, and the seas ...
'' with director
Jon Kasdan Jonathan Peter Kasdan (born September 30, 1979) is an American film and television screenwriter, director, producer and actor. Biography Kasdan was born to a Jewish family, the son of Meg (née Goldman), a writer, and film director Lawrence Kasd ...
, but the latter dropped out before filming. The show's casting director wanted White for season 14 and he was ultimately paired with his father for the show. After this season, Jodi Wincheski began working as a casting producer for both ''The Amazing Race'' and '' Survivor''. ;Future appearances Amanda & Kris, Mel & Mike, Kisha & Jen, Margie & Luke, and Jaime & Cara raced again in '' The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business''. Margie & Luke also competed in the second All-Star edition. Outside of ''The Amazing Race'', Jaime Edmondson appeared on ''
The Girls Next Door ''The Girls Next Door'' (also known as ''The Girls of the Playboy Mansion'') is a reality television series which focuses on the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the Playboy Mansion. The series was created by executive pro ...
'' and '' The Girls Next Door: The Bunny House''. Victoria Hunt appeared on the
TLC TLC may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2 * TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network ** TLC (Asia), an A ...
reality show ''
Extreme Cheapskates ''Extreme Cheapskates'' is an American reality television series that aired on TLC (TV network), TLC and premiered on October 16, 2012. It documents the lives of those who take frugality to an extreme. TLC aired the series' television pilot, pilo ...
'' in 2012. Mike White later competed on '' Survivor: David vs. Goliath''.


Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order. *A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. *An placement with a double-dagger () indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a pit stop in a non-elimination leg, and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg. *An ''italicized'' placement indicates a team's placement at the midpoint of a double leg. *A indicates that the team used the U-Turn; a indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn. ;Notes


Race summary


Leg 1 (United States → Switzerland)

*Episode 1: "Don't Let a Cheese Hit Me" (February 15, 2009) *Prize: A trip for two to
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Puerto Vallarta ( or simply Vallarta) is a Mexican beach resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Puerto Vallarta is the second largest urban agglomeration in the state after the Guadalaja ...
(awarded to Margie & Luke) *Eliminated: Preston & Jennifer ;Locations * Los Alamitos,
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
( Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base) (Starting Line) *
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
,
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
* Zürich Milan →
Locarno , neighboring_municipalities= Ascona, Avegno, Cadenazzo, Cugnasco, Gerra (Verzasca), Gambarogno, Gordola, Lavertezzo, Losone, Minusio, Muralto, Orselina, Tegna, Tenero-Contra , twintowns =* Gagra, Georgia * Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic ...
, Switzerland *Locarno (Church of Sant'Antonio) *
Tenero-Contra Tenero-Contra is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Geography Tenero-Contra has an area, , of . Of this area, or 27.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 45.5% is forested. Of the re ...
(
Verzasca Dam Verzasca may refer to: * Valle Verzasca, valley in Switzerland * Verzasca, river in Switzerland * Verzasca, municipality in Switzerland {{geodis ...
) * Locarno →
Interlaken , neighboring_municipalities= Bönigen, Därligen, Matten bei Interlaken, Ringgenberg, Unterseen , twintowns = Scottsdale (USA), Ōtsu (Japan), Třeboň (Czech Republic) Interlaken (; lit.: ''between lakes'') is a Swiss town and mun ...
*Interlaken (Kleine Rugen Wiese) *
Stechelberg Stechelberg is a small village in Switzerland located at the base of the Schwarzmönch mountain in the Bernese Alps, part of the district of Lauterbrunnen. History The name "Stächelbärg" is first recorded in 1749 to describe this part of the v ...
(Hotel Stechelberg) *Stechelberg (Alpenhof Stechelberg) ;Episode summary *Teams set off from the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base and drove themselves to
Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles International Airport , commonly referred to as LAX (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles, California and its surrounding metropolitan area. LAX is located in the W ...
, where they had to book one of two flights: the first flight on
Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
carried six teams and flew to Zürich, Switzerland, while the second flight on
Air France Air France (; formally ''Société Air France, S.A.''), stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the flag carrier of France headquartered in Tremblay-en-France. It is a subsidiary of the Air France–KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global air ...
departed 25 minutes later and flew to
Milan, Italy Milan ( , , Lombard language, Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the List of cities in Italy, second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4  ...
. After arriving in either Zürich or Milan, teams had to travel by train to
Locarno, Switzerland , neighboring_municipalities= Ascona, Avegno, Cadenazzo, Cugnasco, Gerra (Verzasca), Gambarogno, Gordola, Lavertezzo, Losone, Minusio, Muralto, Orselina, Tegna, Tenero-Contra , twintowns =* Gagra, Georgia * Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic ...
. *Once in Locarno, teams had to find the Church of Sant'Antonio, where they signed up for one of three departure times the next morning, at which point, teams were given a picture and had to figure out that their next clue was located at the
Verzasca Dam Verzasca may refer to: * Valle Verzasca, valley in Switzerland * Verzasca, river in Switzerland * Verzasca, municipality in Switzerland {{geodis ...
. * In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to
bungee jump Bungee jumping (), also spelled bungy jumping, is an activity that involves a person jumping from a great height while connected to a large elastic cord. The launching pad is usually erected on a tall structure such as a building or crane, a ...
off the Verzasca Dam in order to receive their next clue. *After completing the Roadblock, teams had to travel by train to
Interlaken , neighboring_municipalities= Bönigen, Därligen, Matten bei Interlaken, Ringgenberg, Unterseen , twintowns = Scottsdale (USA), Ōtsu (Japan), Třeboň (Czech Republic) Interlaken (; lit.: ''between lakes'') is a Swiss town and mun ...
and then make their way to the Kleine Rugen Wiese. There, teams had to transport four wheels of
cheese Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During production, ...
from a shed to the bottom of a hill using traditional cheese carriers and then properly stack the wheels in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel to the Hotel
Stechelberg Stechelberg is a small village in Switzerland located at the base of the Schwarzmönch mountain in the Bernese Alps, part of the district of Lauterbrunnen. History The name "Stächelbärg" is first recorded in 1749 to describe this part of the v ...
, where they had to listen for a group of
yodelers Yodeling (also jodeling) is a form of singing which involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register (or "chest voice") and the high-pitch head register or falsetto. The English word ''yodel'' is derived from the ...
, who led them to the nearby pit stop. ;Additional notes *The cheese-moving task was later revisited in
season 22 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and po ...
as a Switchback. *The bungee jump off the Verzasca Dam was also revisited in season 33 as a Switchback.


Leg 2 (Switzerland → Germany → Austria)

*Episode 2: "Your Target is Your Partner's Face" (February 22, 2009) *Prize: A hybrid
go-kart A go-kart, also written as go-cart (often referred to as simply a kart), is a type of sports car, close wheeled car, open-wheel car or quadracycle. Go-karts come in all shapes and forms, from non-motorised models to high-performance Kart rac ...
for each team member (awarded to Tammy & Victor) *Eliminated: Steve & Linda ;Locations *
Stechelberg Stechelberg is a small village in Switzerland located at the base of the Schwarzmönch mountain in the Bernese Alps, part of the district of Lauterbrunnen. History The name "Stächelbärg" is first recorded in 1749 to describe this part of the v ...
(Alpenhof Stechelberg) * Zürich →
Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
*
Ruhpolding Ruhpolding is the municipality with the biggest area of the Traunstein district in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the south of the Chiemgau region in the Alps and next to the Austrian border. Ruhpolding has a biathlon track. ...
(
Rauschberg Rauschberg is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state ...
) *
Schönau am Königssee Schönau am Königssee is a municipality in the district of Berchtesgadener Land in the German state of Bavaria. It is located at the northern end of the Königssee lake. Geography Schönau is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps; it is the sou ...
( Bobsled Track) *Schönau am Königssee (Holzsäger) *
Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...
,
Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
(
Schloss Hellbrunn Hellbrunn Palace (german: Schloss Hellbrunn) is an early Baroque villa of palatial size, near Morzg, a southern district of the city of Salzburg, Austria. It was built in 1613–19 by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, ...
) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Munich, Germany Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...
. Once in Munich, they had to drive to the village of
Ruhpolding Ruhpolding is the municipality with the biggest area of the Traunstein district in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the south of the Chiemgau region in the Alps and next to the Austrian border. Ruhpolding has a biathlon track. ...
and ride a cable car to the
Rauschberg Rauschberg is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state ...
, where they found their next clue. * In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to tandem
paraglide Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or lies supine in a cocoon-like 'po ...
with an instructor off a mountain to a landing area below, where their partner waited with their next clue. In the event of unfavorable winds, they had to choose between waiting an indeterminate amount of time for better conditions or taking a 60-minute hike down the mountain. *After completing the Roadblock, teams had to travel to
Schönau am Königssee Schönau am Königssee is a municipality in the district of Berchtesgadener Land in the German state of Bavaria. It is located at the northern end of the Königssee lake. Geography Schönau is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps; it is the sou ...
and make their way to the bobsled track. * This season's first Detour was a choice between Balancing Dolly or Austrian Folly. In Balancing Dolly, both team members had to navigate
Segways The Segway is a two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporter invented by Dean Kamen and brought to market in 2001 as the Segway HT, subsequently as the Segway PT, and manufactured by Segway Inc. ''HT'' is an initialism for "human transpo ...
over a road obstacle course in order to receive their next clue. In Austrian Folly, teams had to enter a party tent and throw Bavarian pies at a target, unaware that their target would be their partner's face. They had to take turns smacking each other in the face until they found a pie with cherry filling in order to receive their next clue. *After completing the Detour, teams had to make their way to the Holzsäger, a woodcutting workshop, and wait for the mechanical Tyrolean woodcutters to cut a piece of wood, which was stamped with the location of the pit stop:
Schloss Hellbrunn Hellbrunn Palace (german: Schloss Hellbrunn) is an early Baroque villa of palatial size, near Morzg, a southern district of the city of Salzburg, Austria. It was built in 1613–19 by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, ...
in
Salzburg, Austria Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...
.


Leg 3 (Austria → Romania)

*Episode 3: "I'm Not Wearing That Girl's Leotard!" (March 1, 2009) *Prize: A trip for two to
Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio) is a small national park in the Central Pacific Conservation Area located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just south of the city of Quepos, Puntarenas, and from the nation ...
in
Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...
(awarded to Mel & Mike) *Eliminated: Brad & Victoria ;Locations *
Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...
(
Sound of Music ''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, ''The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. Set ...
Pavillion) * Salzburg →
Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
* Munich →
Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...
,
Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
*Bucharest (
Lia Manoliu Lia Manoliu (; 25 April 1932 – 9 January 1998) was a Romanian discus thrower who won one gold and two bronze Olympic medals. She was the first track and field athlete to compete at six Olympics (1952–1972). Early life; sports and educat ...
National Sports Complex) * Bucharest →
Brașov Brașov (, , ; german: Kronstadt; hu, Brassó; la, Corona; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the administrative centre of Brașov County. According to the latest Romanian census (2011), Brașov has a popu ...
*Brașov (
Biserica Neagră The Black Church, Biserica Neagră in Romanian (german: Schwarze Kirche, hu, Fekete templom), stands in the city of Brașov in south-eastern Transylvania, Romania. It was built by the Saxon (German) community of the city and represents the mai ...
) *
Bran Bran, also known as miller's bran, is the hard outer layers of Cereal, cereal grain. It consists of the combined aleurone and pericarp. Corn (maize) bran also includes the pedicel (tip cap). Along with cereal germ, germ, it is an integral pa ...
(Vila Panoramic) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to travel back to
Munich, Germany Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...
, by train and then fly to
Bucharest, Romania Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...
. Once in Bucharest, teams had to make their way to the
Lia Manoliu Lia Manoliu (; 25 April 1932 – 9 January 1998) was a Romanian discus thrower who won one gold and two bronze Olympic medals. She was the first track and field athlete to compete at six Olympics (1952–1972). Early life; sports and educat ...
National Sports Complex in order to find their next clue. * In this leg's Roadblock honoring
Nadia Comăneci Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner (born November 12, 1961) is a Romanian retired gymnast and a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10. ...
, one team member had to complete a series of moves in three
gymnastics Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shou ...
disciplines – the
balance beam The balance beam is a rectangular artistic gymnastics apparatus and an event performed using the apparatus. Both the apparatus and the event are sometimes simply referred to as "beam". The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring i ...
, the
parallel bars Parallel bars are floor apparatus consisting of two wooden bars slightly over long and positioned at roughly head height. Parallel bars are used in artistic gymnastics and also for physical therapy and home exercise. Gymnasts may optionally we ...
, and floor exercises – in order to receive their next clue. *After completing the Roadblock, teams had to travel by train to
Brașov Brașov (, , ; german: Kronstadt; hu, Brassó; la, Corona; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the administrative centre of Brașov County. According to the latest Romanian census (2011), Brașov has a popu ...
and make their way to the
Biserica Neagră The Black Church, Biserica Neagră in Romanian (german: Schwarze Kirche, hu, Fekete templom), stands in the city of Brașov in south-eastern Transylvania, Romania. It was built by the Saxon (German) community of the city and represents the mai ...
, where they found their next clue. * This leg's Detour was a choice between Gypsy Moves or Vampire Remains. In Gypsy Moves, teams traveled to a
gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
encampment and helped a family move from one camp to another by loading their belongings onto a traditional horse-drawn cart and unloading them at their new camp in order to receive their next clue. In Vampire Remains, teams had to drag a chained coffin to a field of stakes in the shadow of
Bran Castle Bran Castle ( ro, Castelul Bran; german: Schloss Bran; hu, Törcsvári kastély) is a castle in Bran, southwest of Brașov. It is a national monument and landmark in Transylvania. The fortress is on the Transylvanian side of the historical b ...
. There, they had to undo the coffin's chains and found several antique frames which they then had to
impale Impalement, as a method of torture and execution, is the penetration of a human by an object such as a stake, pole, spear, or hook, often by the complete or partial perforation of the torso. It was particularly used in response to "crimes aga ...
by smashing the stakes until they found one containing an ''Amazing Race'' flag, which they could trade for their next clue. *Teams had to check in at the pit stop: the Vila Panoramic, overlooking Bran Castle.


Leg 4 (Romania → Russia)

*Episode 4: "It Was Like a Caravan of Idiots" (March 8, 2009) *Prize: A
motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
for each team member (awarded to Christie & Jodi) *Eliminated: Amanda & Kris ;Locations *
Bran Bran, also known as miller's bran, is the hard outer layers of Cereal, cereal grain. It consists of the combined aleurone and pericarp. Corn (maize) bran also includes the pedicel (tip cap). Along with cereal germ, germ, it is an integral pa ...
(Vila Panoramic) *
Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...
Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk ( ; rus, Красноя́рск, a=Ru-Красноярск2.ogg, p=krəsnɐˈjarsk) (in semantic translation - Red Ravine City) is the largest city and administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is situated along the Yeni ...
,
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
*
Divnogorsk Divnogorsk ( rus, Дивногорск, p=dʲɪvnɐˈɡorsk) is a town in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River, southeast of Krasnoyarsk, the administrative center of the krai. Population: History Paleolithic remains, which w ...
(
Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam The Krasnoyarsk Dam is a high concrete gravity dam located on the Yenisey River about upstream from Krasnoyarsk in Divnogorsk, Russia. It was constructed from 1956 to 1972, and it supplies about 6,000 MW of electricity, mostly used to supply the ...
) * Ovsyanka Village (Church of Saint Innokenty) *Ovsyanka Village (Museum of The Last Bow) *Krasnoyarsk (Bobrovy Log Park) *Krasnoyarsk ( Krasnoyarsk Theater of Musical Comedy ') ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk ( ; rus, Красноя́рск, a=Ru-Красноярск2.ogg, p=krəsnɐˈjarsk) (in semantic translation - Red Ravine City) is the largest city and administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is situated along the Yeni ...
in Russian Siberia. Once in Krasnoyarsk, teams were given a 10 ruble note and had to figure out that their next location was depicted on the bill – the
Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam The Krasnoyarsk Dam is a high concrete gravity dam located on the Yenisey River about upstream from Krasnoyarsk in Divnogorsk, Russia. It was constructed from 1956 to 1972, and it supplies about 6,000 MW of electricity, mostly used to supply the ...
– where teams found their next clue. Teams then had to make their way to Church of Saint Innokenty in Ovsyanka Village. * This leg's Detour was a choice between Stack or Construct. In Stack, teams had to properly stack wood in front of an existing stack in order to receive their next clue. If their stack collapsed into the existing one, they had to rebuild both. In Construct, teams had to travel to a workshop and assemble a window frame, which they had to install in a local house in order to receive their next clue. *After completing the Detour, teams had to travel to the Museum of The Last Bow in order to find their next clue, which directed them to the Bobrovy Log Park in Krasnoyarsk. * In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to complete a lap on a bobsled roller coaster with a speed of up to in under four minutes while looking for seven letters scattered around the track. They then had to arrange the letters to spell the name of a famous Russian playwright – ''
CHEKHOV Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...
'' – in order to receive their next clue. *Teams had to check in at the pit stop: the Krasnoyarsk Theater of Musical Comedy. ;Additional notes * Margie & Luke chose to use the U-Turn on Amanda & Kris.


Leg 5 (Russia)

*Episode 5: "She's a Little Scared of Stick, But I Think She'll Be OK!" (March 15, 2009) *Prize: A trip for two to
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindian ...
(awarded to Margie & Luke) ;Locations *
Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk ( ; rus, Красноя́рск, a=Ru-Красноярск2.ogg, p=krəsnɐˈjarsk) (in semantic translation - Red Ravine City) is the largest city and administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is situated along the Yeni ...
( Krasnoyarsk Theater of Musical Comedy ') * (
Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR; , , ) connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway line in the world. It runs from the city of Moscow in the west to the city of Vladivostok in the ea ...
) Krasnoyarsk →
Novosibirsk Novosibirsk (, also ; rus, Новосиби́рск, p=nəvəsʲɪˈbʲirsk, a=ru-Новосибирск.ogg) is the largest city and administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast and Siberian Federal District in Russia. As of the Russian Census ...
*Novosibirsk (Punkt Tekhnicheskogo Osmotra) *Novosibirsk (Komsomolskaya Street & Voznesensky Cathedral Stadium Spartak) *Novosibirsk (
State Public Scientific & Technological Library State Public Scientific and Technological Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPSTL SB RAS) is the largest library in Russia east of the Urals, the State Universal Book repository of Siberia, an Informational Cente ...
) *Novosibirsk (
Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre (the official title is the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (russian: Новосибирский государственный академический театр оперы и ба ...
) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of the leg, teams had to travel on the
Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR; , , ) connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway line in the world. It runs from the city of Moscow in the west to the city of Vladivostok in the ea ...
to
Novosibirsk Novosibirsk (, also ; rus, Новосиби́рск, p=nəvəsʲɪˈbʲirsk, a=ru-Новосибирск.ogg) is the largest city and administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast and Siberian Federal District in Russia. As of the Russian Census ...
. Once there, teams then had to make their way to Punkt Tekhnicheskogo Osmotra in order to find their next clue. * This leg's Detour was a choice between Russian Bride or Russian Snowplow. In Russian Bride, teams drove to a Soviet-era apartment on Komsomolskaya Street, fetched a bride, and then brought her to the Voznesensky Cathedral, where her groom was waiting. Once the team had a picture taken with the couple, they received their next clue. In Russian Snowplow, teams headed to Stadium Spartak, where each team member took turns driving a
snowplow A snowplow (also snow plow, snowplough or snow plough) is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes. Although this term is often used to re ...
through a marked course while being directed by their partner. When both team members completed the course, they received their next clue. *After completing the Detour, teams had to travel to the
State Public Scientific & Technological Library State Public Scientific and Technological Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPSTL SB RAS) is the largest library in Russia east of the Urals, the State Universal Book repository of Siberia, an Informational Cente ...
in order to find their next clue. * In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose two Russian marathon runners, who helped them warm up for ten minutes before they had to strip down to their underwear and run a course to the pit stop at the
Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre (the official title is the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (russian: Новосибирский государственный академический театр оперы и ба ...
, where their partner joined them. ;Additional notes *This was a non-elimination leg.


Leg 6 (Russia → India)

*Episode 6: "Alright Guys We're at War!" (March 22, 2009) *Prize: An ocean
kayak A kayak is a small, narrow watercraft which is typically propelled by means of a double-bladed paddle. The word kayak originates from the Greenlandic word ''qajaq'' (). The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each se ...
for each team member (awarded to Tammy & Victor) *Eliminated: Christie & Jodi ;Locations *
Novosibirsk Novosibirsk (, also ; rus, Новосиби́рск, p=nəvəsʲɪˈbʲirsk, a=ru-Новосибирск.ogg) is the largest city and administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast and Siberian Federal District in Russia. As of the Russian Census ...
(Marins Park Hotel Novosibirsk) * Novosibirsk →
Jaipur Jaipur (; Hindi Language, Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Rajasthan. , the city had a pop ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
*Dhula Village (Sacred Tree – Peepli Ka Pedh) *Jaipur (
Amber Fort Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a town with an area of located from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Amber city and Amber fort were founded by ruler Alan Singh of Chanda dynasty of Meenas. Located ...
– Gaura Parvati Parking) *Jaipur (Johari Bazar – Ramniwas Ramgopal Puppet Store) *Jaipur (Kalla Hanuman Temple) *Jaipur (
Sanganer Sanganer is a town/ Tehsil (an administrative division) situated in Jaipur district, Rajasthan, 16 km south of state capital Jaipur. Jaipur has been divided in 13 Sub divisions and Sanganer is one of these 13 Sub divisions. It is famous for ...
i Gate →
Zorawar Singh Zorawar Singh may refer to: * Zorawar Singh (Dogra general), general of Raja Gulab Singh * Zorawar Singh (Sikhism), third son of Guru Gobind Singh * Kanwar Zorawar Singh, Indian Army general {{Hndis, Singh, Zorawar ...
Gate Badi Chopar Intersection) *Jaipur (
Jaigarh Fort Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amer Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amer in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726 ...
) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Jaipur, India Jaipur (; Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Jaipur is also known as ...
. Once in Jaipur, teams had to travel to the Sacred Tree in Dhula Village, where they had to pick up one of two
telephones A telephone is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be easily heard directly. A telephone converts sound, typically and most efficiently the human voice, into el ...
and call one of four provided telephone numbers. The person on the line then told teams the location of their next clue: the
Amber Fort Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a town with an area of located from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Amber city and Amber fort were founded by ruler Alan Singh of Chanda dynasty of Meenas. Located ...
. * In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose group of camels and use traditional tools to load and carry a required amount of
hay Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticat ...
to the camels, as well as fill a trough with water, in order to receive their next clue. *After completing the Roadblock, teams had to travel to the Ramniwas Ramgopal Puppet Store, where they found their next clue. * For their Speed Bump, Christie & Jodi had to travel to Kala Hanuman Temple, where they had to decorate an elephant's face with various paints to the satisfaction of the
mahout A mahout is an elephant rider, trainer, or keeper. Mahouts were used since antiquity for both civilian and military use. Traditionally, mahouts came from ethnic groups with generations of elephant keeping experience, with a mahout retaining h ...
before they could continue racing. * This leg's Detour was a choice between Movers or Shakers. In Movers, teams traveled to the
Sanganer Sanganer is a town/ Tehsil (an administrative division) situated in Jaipur district, Rajasthan, 16 km south of state capital Jaipur. Jaipur has been divided in 13 Sub divisions and Sanganer is one of these 13 Sub divisions. It is famous for ...
i Gate and had to choose two rickshaws loaded with barrels of hay. They then had to transport the hay along the
city wall of Jaipur The Jaipur city wall is the city wall encircling the old Jaipur city in Rajasthan state in India. History It was built in 1727 when the city was founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Features The wall is six meters high and three meters thic ...
to the
Zorawar Singh Zorawar Singh may refer to: * Zorawar Singh (Dogra general), general of Raja Gulab Singh * Zorawar Singh (Sikhism), third son of Guru Gobind Singh * Kanwar Zorawar Singh, Indian Army general {{Hndis, Singh, Zorawar ...
Gate, where they had to search through the hay for a small metal elephant charm which they could then trade for their next clue. In Shakers, teams traveled to the Badi Chopar junction, where they had to don traditional costumes, join a local dance troupe, and earn 100 (roughly $2) worth of tips. They had to give the money that they'd earned to the band leader in exchange for their next clue. *Teams had to check in at the pit stop: the
Jaigarh Fort Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amer Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amer in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726 ...
in Jaipur.


Leg 7 (India → Thailand)

*Episode 7: "Gorilla? Gorilla?? Gorilla???" (March 29, 2009) *Prize: A trip for two to
Oahu, Hawaii Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O’ ...
(awarded to Tammy & Victor) *Eliminated: Mel & Mike ;Locations *
Jaipur Jaipur (; Hindi Language, Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Rajasthan. , the city had a pop ...
(
Jaigarh Fort Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amer Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amer in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726 ...
) * Jaipur →
Phuket Phuket (; th, ภูเก็ต, , ms, Bukit or ''Tongkah''; Hokkien:普吉; ) is one of the southern provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands of ...
,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
*Phuket ( Phuket Zoo) *Phuket ( Old Phuket – Nguan Choon Tong Herbs Shop) *Phuket (Pae Yod Wat Phutta Mongkhon Nimit →
King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
Park) *Phuket (Wat Thep Nimit Temple) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Phuket, Thailand Phuket (; th, ภูเก็ต, , ms, Bukit or ''Tongkah''; Hokkien:普吉; ) is one of the southern provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands of ...
. Once in Phuket, teams had to find their next clue using only a photograph of a gorilla statue, which they to figure out was located at the Phuket Zoo. At the zoo, teams found their clue and were instructed to take a picture with the zoo's mascot, Esso the
tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...
, and then participate in an elephant show. When the elephant show concluded, teams had to return to the tiger handler, who handed them their picture with their next clue. *At the Nguan Choon Tong Herbs Shop in Old Phuket, teams had to direct the shopkeeper to open 99 boxes of herbs one at a time until they found the box that contained their next clue. * This leg's Detour was a choice between 100 Barrels or 2 Miles. In 100 Barrels, teams had to travel to Pae Yod and prepare a fishing boat by filling 47 barrels with water and loading the other 53 barrels on the upper deck in order to receive their next clue. In 2 Miles, one team member had to pull a
rickshaw A rickshaw originally denoted a two- or three-wheeled passenger cart, now known as a pulled rickshaw, which is generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (also ...
carrying their partner from Wat Phutta Mongkhon Nimit to
King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
Park in order to find their next clue. *Teams had to check in at the pit stop: Wat Thep Nimit Temple in Phuket.


Leg 8 (Thailand)

*Episode 8: "Rooting Around in People's Mouths Could Be Unpleasant" (April 12, 2009) *Prize: A trip for two to
San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the jur ...
(awarded to Margie & Luke) ;Locations *
Phuket Phuket (; th, ภูเก็ต, , ms, Bukit or ''Tongkah''; Hokkien:普吉; ) is one of the southern provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands of ...
(Wat Thep Nimit Temple) * Phuket to
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
*Bangkok (Chareonyont 007 Boat Yard) * Bangkok (
Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Et ...
– Peninsula Pier) *Bangkok (Street of Happy Smiles Wat Samphanthawong) *Bangkok (
Phaya Thai Palace The Phya Thai Palace ( th, วังพญาไท ''Wang Phaya Thai'') or Royal Phya Thai Palace ( ''Phra Ratcha Wang Phaya Thai'') is on the banks of the Samsen Canal ( ''Khlong Sam Sen'') on Rajavithee Road ( ''Thanon Ratchawithi'') in the ...
) ;Roadblock *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
, and then had to find their next clue at the Chareonyont 007 Boat Yard. * In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to properly attach a
propeller A propeller (colloquially often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon ...
to a traditional Thai
long-tail boat The long-tail boat, ( th, เรือหางยาว, , ) is a type of watercraft native to Southeast Asia, which uses a common automotive engine as a readily available and maintainable powerplant. A craft designed to carry passengers on a ri ...
in order to receive their next clue. *After completing the Roadblock, teams had to navigate the waterways of Bangkok in their long-tail boat using a provided map in order to find the Peninsula Pier, where they found their next clue. * This leg's Detour was a choice between Broken Teeth or Broken Record. In Broken Teeth, teams traveled to the "Street of Happy Smiles", where they had to search through 50 sets of
dentures Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or ...
and match five patients with the correct set of dentures in order to receive their next clue. In Broken Record, teams had to travel to Wat Samphanthawong and choose a group of ''
kathoey ''Kathoey'' or ''katoey'' ( th, กะเทย; ) is an identity used by some people in Thailand, whose identities in English may be best described as transgender women in some cases, or effeminate gay men in other cases. Transgender wom ...
s'' and a party taxi. Teams then had to sing
karaoke Karaoke (; ; , clipped compound of Japanese ''kara'' "empty" and ''ōkesutora'' "orchestra") is a type of interactive entertainment usually offered in clubs and bars, where people sing along to recorded music using a microphone. The music is ...
with the other travelers while the taxi driver drove them through the traffic of
Bangkok's Chinatown Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. It was founded in 1782 when the city was established as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom, and served as the home of the mainly Teochew immigrant Chinese population, who ...
until they returned to the temple, at which point, they could receive their next clue. *Teams had to check in at the pit stop: the
Phaya Thai Palace The Phya Thai Palace ( th, วังพญาไท ''Wang Phaya Thai'') or Royal Phya Thai Palace ( ''Phra Ratcha Wang Phaya Thai'') is on the banks of the Samsen Canal ( ''Khlong Sam Sen'') on Rajavithee Road ( ''Thanon Ratchawithi'') in the ...
in Bangkok. ;Additional notes *This was a non-elimination leg.


Leg 9 (Thailand → China)

*Episode 9: "Our Parents Will Cry Themselves to Death" (April 19, 2009) *Prize: A trip for two to
Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...
(awarded to Kisha & Jen) *Eliminated: Mark & Michael ;Locations *
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
(
Phaya Thai Palace The Phya Thai Palace ( th, วังพญาไท ''Wang Phaya Thai'') or Royal Phya Thai Palace ( ''Phra Ratcha Wang Phaya Thai'') is on the banks of the Samsen Canal ( ''Khlong Sam Sen'') on Rajavithee Road ( ''Thanon Ratchawithi'') in the ...
) * Bangkok →
Guilin Guilin ( Standard Zhuang: ''Gveilinz''; alternatively romanized as Kweilin) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the nort ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
*Guilin (Folded Brocade Mountains – Peak of the Luminous Moon) (Unaired) *Guilin (Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon) *Guilin (
Li River The Li River or Li Jiang () is the name for the upper reaches of the Gui River in northwestern Guangxi, China. It is part of the Xijiang River system in the Pearl River Basin. The river flows from Xing'an County to Pingle County, where the ka ...
– #24 Bridge) *Guilin ( Ancient South Gate) *Guilin (Banyan Lake –
Sun and Moon Pagodas The Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔, Rìyuè Shuāngtǎ) are twin pagodas located in Guilin, Guangxi, China. Originally built in the city moat of Guilin during the Tang dynasty, the pagodas were reconstructed in 2001 using historical records ...
) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Guilin, China. Once in Guilin, teams had to make their way to the Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon in order to find their next clue. * For their Speed Bump, Mark & Michael had to wash and dry the hair of two women outside the Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon before they could continue racing. * In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to direct a
cormorant Phalacrocoracidae is a family of approximately 40 species of aquatic birds commonly known as cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed, but in 2021 the IOC adopted a consensus taxonomy of seven ge ...
to retrieve fish that they had thrown in the
Li River The Li River or Li Jiang () is the name for the upper reaches of the Gui River in northwestern Guangxi, China. It is part of the Xijiang River system in the Pearl River Basin. The river flows from Xing'an County to Pingle County, where the ka ...
. Once the cormorant retrieved 10 fish, teams received their next clue. *After completing the Roadblock, teams had to travel to the Ancient South Gate in order to find their next clue. * This leg's Detour was a choice between Choreography or Calligraphy. In Choreography, teams had to perform a traditional dance routine in order to receive their next clue. In Calligraphy, teams had to copy
Chinese character Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the Written Chinese, writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are k ...
s written by a
calligrapher Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...
at four stations. Once one of the calligraphers was satisfied with the teams'
calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...
, he stamped their paper and they could proceed to the next station, which was named in the characters that they had just copied. Once teams acquired all four stamps, they were given their next clue. *Teams had to walk to the pit stop: the
Sun and Moon Pagodas The Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔, Rìyuè Shuāngtǎ) are twin pagodas located in Guilin, Guangxi, China. Originally built in the city moat of Guilin during the Tang dynasty, the pagodas were reconstructed in 2001 using historical records ...
on Banyan Lake. ;Additional notes *After arriving in Guilin, teams actually traveled to the Folded Brocade Mountains, where they had to climb to the Peak of the Luminous Moon and strike the Drums of Life in order to receive their next clue. This task was unaired, and teams were shown going directly to the hair salon instead.


Leg 10 (China)

*Episode 10: "Having a Baby's Gotta Be Easier Than This" (April 26, 2009)
& Episode 11: "No More Mr. Nice Guy" (May 3, 2009) *Prizes: A pair of jet skis (awarded to Jaime & Cara)
& a trip for two to the
Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands (Spanish: , , ) are an archipelago of volcanic islands. They are distributed on each side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, and are part of the Republic of Ecuador ...
(awarded to Tammy & Victor) *Eliminated: Kisha & Jen ;Locations *
Guilin Guilin ( Standard Zhuang: ''Gveilinz''; alternatively romanized as Kweilin) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the nort ...
(Banyan Lake –
Sun and Moon Pagodas The Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔, Rìyuè Shuāngtǎ) are twin pagodas located in Guilin, Guangxi, China. Originally built in the city moat of Guilin during the Tang dynasty, the pagodas were reconstructed in 2001 using historical records ...
) * Guilin →
Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
*Beijing (
Jianguomen Outer Street Jianguomen Outer Street, also transliterated as Jianguomen Wai Avenue () is a major street in urban Beijing. It forms part of the extended Chang'an Avenue. It runs from Jianguomen Bridge in the west through to Guomao on the east. It runs thro ...
– Liangzi Foot Massage Palace) *Beijing (Beijing Muxiyuan Sports Technology School – Guangcai Natatorium) *Beijing ( Drum Tower) *Beijing (
Beihai Beihai (; Postal romanization: Pakhoi) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Guangxi, People's Republic of China. Its status as a seaport on the north shore of the Gulf of Tonkin has granted it historical importance as a port of internation ...
Street Mall) * Beijing (
Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is a Chinese palace, palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples includ ...
– Northwest Corner → Dongdan Station) *Beijing (
Huguang Guild Hall The Huguang Guild Hall () in Beijing is one of Beijing's most renowned Beijing opera (Peking opera) theaters. History Built in 1807, and at the height of its glory, the Huguang Guild Hall, along with the Zhengyici Peking Opera Theater was know ...
) *Beijing (Huguang Guild Hall – Wenchang Pavilion) *Beijing (
Donghuamen Night Market Donghuamen Night Market was a night market located in the northern end of Wangfujing in Beijing, China. Dong Hua Men is written 东华门, the name of the East Gate of the Forbidden City. Description One can find a row of unusual food stalls. An ...
) *Beijing (
Beijing National Stadium The National Stadium (), also known as the Bird's Nest (), is an 80,000-capacity stadium in Beijing. The stadium was jointly designed by architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron from Basel-based architecture team Herzog & de Meuron, p ...
) ;Episode summary (Episode 10) *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
. Once there, teams had to make their way to the Liangzi Foot Massage Palace in order to find their next clue. * In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to drink a cup of Chinese
medicinal tea Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. Oftentimes herb tea, or the plain term ...
, endure a traditional therapeutic
foot massage Massage is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pain. In Eu ...
for ten minutes, and drink a second cup of tea in order to receive their next clue. In the event they could not bear the painful part of the massage, they could signal the masseuse to stop; however, the consequence of doing so would result in having to restart the massage from the beginning. *After completing the first Roadblock, teams had to travel to the Guangcai Natatorium at the Beijing Muxiyuan Sports Technology School, where they found their next clue. * This leg's first Detour was a choice between Sync or Swim. In Sync, teams had to perform a synchronized dive from
springboard A springboard or diving board is used for diving and is a board that is itself a spring, i.e. a linear flex-spring, of the cantilever type. Springboards are commonly fixed by a hinge at one end (so they can be flipped up when not in use), and ...
s and score a five from both judges by hitting the water in unison in order to receive their next clue. In Swim, teams had to don swimsuits and then swim eight lengths of the pool (400 meters) with each team member alternating after two lengths in order to receive their next clue. *Teams then had to travel to the North Gate of the Drum Tower in Beijing. There, teams met Phil, who told them that the leg was not over before handing them their next clue. ;Episode summary (Episode 11) *Teams had to make their way to the
Beihai Beihai (; Postal romanization: Pakhoi) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Guangxi, People's Republic of China. Its status as a seaport on the north shore of the Gulf of Tonkin has granted it historical importance as a port of internation ...
Street Mall, where they had to search several stores for a
Travelocity Travelocity.com is an online travel agency owned by Expedia Group. It has 12.4 million monthly unique visitors, making it the third most popular website owned by Expedia Group, after Expedia.com and Hotels.com. One of the pioneers of web-based di ...
Roaming Gnome, which had their next clue written on its base. Teams had to keep the gnome with them for the duration of the leg. At the northwest corner of the
Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is a Chinese palace, palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples includ ...
, teams had to locate
electric bicycle An electric bicycle (e-bike, eBike, etc.) is a motorized bicycle with an integrated electric motor used to assist propulsion. Many kinds of e-bikes are available worldwide, but they generally fall into two broad categories: bikes that assis ...
s parked across the moat and then navigate themselves past
Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square or Tian'anmen Square (; 天安门广场; Pinyin: ''Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng''; Wade–Giles: ''Tʻien1-an1-mên2 Kuang3-chʻang3'') is a city square in the city center of Beijing, China, named after the eponymous Tiananmen (" ...
to Dongdan Station, where they found their next clue near one of the station entrances. * This leg's second Detour at the
Huguang Guild Hall The Huguang Guild Hall () in Beijing is one of Beijing's most renowned Beijing opera (Peking opera) theaters. History Built in 1807, and at the height of its glory, the Huguang Guild Hall, along with the Zhengyici Peking Opera Theater was know ...
was a choice between Beijing Opera or Chinese Waiter. In Beijing Opera, teams traveled to the Huguang Huiguan Opera House. There, they had to apply make-up to each other to match two models: (a
princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...
and a
gentleman A gentleman (Old French: ''gentilz hom'', gentle + man) is any man of good and courteous conduct. Originally, ''gentleman'' was the lowest rank of the landed gentry of England, ranking below an esquire and above a yeoman; by definition, the ra ...
). After their makeup was approved, teams had to go to the stage and bow to the master in order to receive their next clue. After completing this task, teams were required to stay in costume for the duration of the leg. In Chinese Waiter, teams had to travel to the Huguang Huiguan Restaurant. There, they had to choose a table of customers and record five orders spoken in
Mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
. Teams then had to pronounce the orders correctly to a chef to have the orders prepared and then serve the plates to the customers in order to receive their next clue. If they pronounced any of the orders incorrectly, they had to go back and retake the orders. *After completing this second Detour, teams found their next clue at the Wenchang Pavilion, which directed teams to the
Donghuamen Night Market Donghuamen Night Market was a night market located in the northern end of Wangfujing in Beijing, China. Dong Hua Men is written 东华门, the name of the East Gate of the Forbidden City. Description One can find a row of unusual food stalls. An ...
, where they found their next clue. * In this leg's second Roadblock, one team member had to eat a plate of fried Chinese street food that included
grasshopper Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are among what is possibly the most ancient living group of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. Grasshopp ...
s, beetle larvae, a
scorpion Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...
, and a
starfish Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish ...
in order to receive their next clue. *Teams had to check in at the pit stop: the
Beijing National Stadium The National Stadium (), also known as the Bird's Nest (), is an 80,000-capacity stadium in Beijing. The stadium was jointly designed by architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron from Basel-based architecture team Herzog & de Meuron, p ...
. ;Additional notes * Tammy & Victor chose to use the U-Turn on Kisha & Jen. *Jaime revealed in a post-show interview that she and Cara were awarded jet skis for coming in first at the midpoint of this leg. *Leg 10 was a double leg that aired over two episodes.


Leg 11 (China → United States)

*Episode 12: "This is How You Lose a Million Dollars" (May 10, 2009) *Winners: Tammy & Victor *Second Place: Jaime & Cara *Third Place: Margie & Luke ;Locations *
Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
(
Beijing National Stadium The National Stadium (), also known as the Bird's Nest (), is an 80,000-capacity stadium in Beijing. The stadium was jointly designed by architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron from Basel-based architecture team Herzog & de Meuron, p ...
) * Beijing →
Kahului Kahului () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It hosts the county's main airport (Kahului Airport), deep-draft harbor, light industrial areas, and commercial shopping centers. The population was 26,337 ...
,
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
* Keokea (Beach Access 118 – Keokea Beach Homestead) * Maalaea (McGregor Point) *
Peahi Peʻahi ( ; ) is a place on the north shore of the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has lent its name to a big wave surfing break, also known as Jaws. Location The name Peʻahi originally applied to an ancient Hawaii land area ('' ...
(Kaohu Farms – Surfboard Fence) * Waikapu ( King Kamehameha Golf Club) ;Episode summary *At the beginning of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to
Kahului Kahului () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It hosts the county's main airport (Kahului Airport), deep-draft harbor, light industrial areas, and commercial shopping centers. The population was 26,337 ...
, on the island of
Maui The island of Maui (; Hawaiian: ) is the second-largest of the islands of the state of Hawaii at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2) and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is the largest of Maui County's four islands, which ...
in
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
. Once there, teams had to travel to the Keokea Beach Homestead, where they had to season a
pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus s ...
with island flavoring and then carry it suspended on a
bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...
pole along the beach to a Hawaiian
lūʻau A lūʻau ( haw, lūʻau, also anglicized as "luau") is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. It may feature food such as poi, ''kālua puaʻa'' (kālua pig), poke, lomi salmon, ʻopihi, and hau ...
. At the lūʻau, they had to properly cover the pig for traditional
kālua Kālua is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method that utilizes an ''imu'', a type of underground oven. The word "''kālua''" ("to cook in an underground oven" in the Hawaiian language) may also be used to describe the food cooked in this manner ...
cooking in order to receive their next clue. *Teams were then directed to McGregor Point, where they had to get on a
personal water craft A personal watercraft (PWC), also called water scooter or jet ski, is a recreational watercraft that a rider sits or stands on, not within, as in a boat. PWCs have two style categories, first and most popular being a runabout or "sit down" whe ...
and ride along a marked path in search of a field of one hundred buoys, where they had to search for one of four buoys that had their next clue attached. Teams then had to travel to Kaohu Farms in order to find their next clue. * In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to search through a pile of more than three hundred
surfboard A surfboard is a narrow plank used in surfing. Surfboards are relatively light, but are strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding an ocean wave. They were invented in ancient Hawaii, where they were known as ''papa he'e ...
s for eleven that displayed an image depicting a task, location, or person related to the ten previous legs (one from each of the first nine legs, and one from each half of the tenth leg). They then had to arrange the surfboards along a fence in chronological order based on their appearance during the season. When all eleven surfboards were displayed in the correct order, teams received their final clue directing them to the finish line at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu. :


Elimination Station

After elimination, the first six teams eliminated were sequestered at a villa in
Ko Samui Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, also often locally shortened to Samui; th, เกาะสมุย, ) is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko ...
,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
to await the finale. CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode aired in the Pacific time zone to show the eliminated teams interacting at the villa. *After Leg 1, Preston & Jennifer were the first team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They expressed their disappointment at being eliminated first and believed that Steve & Linda would be eliminated next. They also discussed who they believe are strong teams and got into an argument over the factors that led to their elimination. *After Leg 2, Steve & Linda were the second team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Steve openly complained about Preston & Jennifer refusing to form an alliance with him and Linda during the first leg, which irritated Preston. Later in the day, the two eliminated teams decided to take a trip to a local
snake farm A snake farm is a facility that houses and breeds a wide variety of snakes, often for the purpose of research and the collection of venom for the creation of antivenom. Many snake farms are primarily tourist attractions. Notable snake farms exist ...
, and then went out to eat. They then predicted that either Christie & Jodi or Jaime & Cara would be the next team eliminated. *After Leg 3, Brad & Victoria were the third team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Their arrival surprised the other two eliminated teams. While recounting the events leading to her and Brad's elimination, Victoria broke down into tears. Tensions developed between Steve & Linda and Preston & Jennifer during the conversation, as Jennifer was perceived as an incessant talker, even interrupting Linda at one point. The next morning, the three eliminated teams visited a Buddhist temple, receiving a blessing of good luck from a monk. *After Leg 4, Amanda & Kris were the fourth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They talked about what happened during the Leg, erroneously deducing that it was either Christie & Jodi or Kisha & Jen who had U-Turned them. Afterward, the four eliminated teams went to the beach to celebrate
Loy Krathong Loy Krathong ( th, ลอยกระทง, , ) is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and in nearby countries with significant South Western Tai cultures ( Laos, Shan, Mon, Tanintharyi, Kelantan, Kedah, and Xishuangbann ...
. *Leg 5 was a non-elimination leg, hence no new teams were sent to the villa. The eliminated teams received
Thai massage Thai massage or Thai yoga massage is a traditional therapy combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures. The idea of Sen-lines ''alias'' energy-lines was first used as "Thai yoga massage". These are similar to ...
s and went
ziplining A zip-line, zip line, zip-wire, flying fox, or death slide is a pulley suspended on a wire rope, cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on a slope. It is designed to enable cargo or a person propelled by gravity to travel from the top ...
. *After Leg 6, Christie & Jodi were the fifth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They first told Amanda & Kris that it was Margie & Luke who U-Turned them, which came as a shock to everyone. Tension developed between Steve and the rest of the group, especially Preston & Jennifer. Steve accused the group of shunning him and Linda, leading to an argument. *After Leg 7, Mel & Mike were the sixth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They noted how the remaining teams on the season are becoming more competitive. Afterward, everyone went shopping at a nearby marketplace. Tension continued to grow between Preston & Jennifer when Preston became irritated with her over her buying another purse. *Leg 8 was a non-elimination leg, so no new teams were eliminated. Due to their constant arguing, Preston & Jennifer chose to spend some time away from each other. The eliminated teams spent the day
snorkeling Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a ...
and
kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...
at an island. *After Leg 9, Mark & Michael were the seventh team eliminated. Before receiving a phone call from the latest team that was eliminated, the eliminated teams at the villa went on a safari, most notably riding an elephant. Afterward, Mark & Michael called the villa to inform the other teams of their elimination and told them of the time penalties that led to their elimination. All teams agreed that they wanted to see Jaime & Cara eliminated next. *Leg 10 was a double-length leg, shown over two episodes. A new episode of Elimination Station was posted after each half aired: **The first half ended with a Virtual Pit Stop (no elimination). Elimination Station showed the sequestered teams on their last day at the Elimination Station, where the teams discussed their time together and who they wanted to see win ''The Amazing Race''. As the eliminated teams packed for their trip to the End City, each of the teams further reminisced about their stay at the Elimination Station. **After the second half of the leg, Kisha & Jen were the eighth and final team eliminated. Elimination Station showed the six eliminated teams arriving at the End City in
Maui, Hawaii The island of Maui (; Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ) is the second-largest of the islands of the state of Hawaii at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2) and is the List of islands of the United States by area, 17th largest island in the United S ...
. After arriving in Maui, the teams checked into a hotel. Once they checked in, they swam and snorkeled at the beach, then returned to the hotel to await a phone call from the eighth team eliminated. The six eliminated teams at the hotel were shocked and disappointed to hear about Kisha & Jen's elimination, especially Preston & Jennifer who wanted them to win. Kisha & Jen told them about what went wrong during the second half of Leg 10 and on the part where they were U-Turned by Tammy & Victor. Kisha & Jen said they wanted to see either Jaime & Cara or Tammy & Victor win, despite having been U-Turned by the latter. Kisha and Jen then told the other eliminated teams that they would meet again at the Finish Line before hanging up. The eliminated teams then shared their thoughts about the upcoming final leg of ''The Amazing Race'', many of them expressing their shock over the fact that Jaime & Cara were one of the final three teams. *Leg 11 was the final leg of ''The Amazing Race 14''. Mark & Michael and Kisha & Jen reunited with the other eliminated teams at the Finish Line at King Kamehameha Golf Club. Many teams believed that Tammy & Victor would win, while Kisha & Jen noted that Margie & Luke had gotten more tense with each other. Teams expressed their opinions about the final three teams at the Finish Line along with their joys and disappointments.


Reception


Critical response

''The Amazing Race 14'' received mixed-to-positive reviews.
Andy Dehnart Andy Dehnart (born August 26, 1977) is an American journalist and television critic. He may be best known as reality television's "longest-standing critic" for his online journalism, as he is the creator of the genre's first tracking website, rea ...
of ''reality blurred'' praised the reduction of time in airport, the cast, and improvements in editing and said that the season finished with "a strong end to an even stronger season." Michael Hewitt of the ''
Orange County Register ''The Orange County Register'' is a paid daily newspaper published in California. The ''Register'', published in Orange County, California, is owned by the private equity firm Alden Global Capital via its Digital Fiest/Media News subsidiaries. ...
'' wrote that the season was "another excellent edition of 'The Amazing Race.'" Michael Russnow of ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' criticized this season's route as the show "didn’t travel in as diversified a fashion, and wherever the teams wound up they stayed in the immediate region a lot longer than in earlier years."
Alan Sepinwall Alan Sepinwall (born October 19, 1973) is an American television reviewer and writer. He spent 14 years as a columnist with ''The Star-Ledger'' in Newark until leaving the newspaper in 2010 to work for the entertainment news website HitFix. He th ...
of ''
The Star-Ledger ''The Star-Ledger'' is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to ''The Jersey Journal'' of Jersey City, ''The Times'' of Trenton and the '' Staten Island Advance'', all of wh ...
'' wrote that his "interest in the season dropped rapidly after Mel and Mike were eliminated" and that he "lacked either an emotional investment in another team or an admiration for them as pure Racers." In 2016, this season was ranked 12th out of the first 27 seasons by the ''
Rob Has a Podcast ''Rob Has a Podcast (RHAP)'' is an entertainment podcast hosted by former '' Survivor'' contestant Rob Cesternino. The podcast primarily provides commentary of reality television game shows. Overview Cesternino started ''RHAP'' in 2010, in ord ...
Amazing Race'' correspondents. In 2021, Val Barone of ''TheThings'' ranked this season as the show's 9th best season. In 2022, Jason Shomer of
Collider A collider is a type of particle accelerator which brings two opposing particle beams together such that the particles collide. Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators. Colliders are used as a research tool in particle ...
ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.


Ratings

;U.S. Nielsen ratings ;Canadian ratings


References


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amazing Race 14 * 14 2009 American television seasons Television shows filmed in California Television shows filmed in Italy Television shows filmed in Switzerland Television shows filmed in Germany Television shows filmed in Austria Television shows filmed in the Netherlands Television shows filmed in Romania Television shows filmed in Russia Television shows filmed in India Television shows filmed in Thailand Television shows filmed in China Television shows filmed in Hawaii