Phil Keoghan, host of Amazing Race, stands in the middle of the Everglades Swamp waiting the arrival of twelve teams about to commence the race of a lifetime. As Phil yells, go, the teams race for cars to drive themselves to the Miami airport and fly to Mexico City, Mexico. In Mexico City, the teams are directed to find the statue of the Angel of Independence to obtain their next clue. This sends them to the Hotel de Cortes where they will board one of three charter buses in the morning. Having arrived at their destination, teams must choose one of two detours--either skydive from 10,000 feet or ride a donkey cart for seven miles. After successfully finishing the detour, teams make their way to the pit stop. Written by Missy

The remaining eleven teams take off from the Pit Stop at the Hacienda san Gabriel de Las Palmas and receive a clue instructing them to travel 133 miles to the Pyramid of the Sun in Tehutecan. Once there, they receive another clue instructing them to travel to the San Marino Marina in Cancun, over 1,000 miles away. Some teams face busing difficulties, but all eventually arrive and face a Detour task that allows them to search for a clue in the water by choosing from two different modes of transportation. One team uses the Fast Forward to skyrocket into the lead. Another arrives last at the Pit Stop and receives the unfortunate news that they are eliminated.

The ten remaining teams take off from the Pit Stop in Cancun and are now instructed to fly to London, England.

The nine remaining teams began the leg in Scotland and raced through to Lisbon, Portugal to face a Detour 'Old School' or 'New School'. In Old School teams had to deliver a ninety-pound barrel of port wine to a nearby restaurant in the town of Porto. In New School teams had to load crates of Port wine bottles and from there they must take it into the city where they had to deliver it. The first choice was less physically demanding but both choices were seemingly tricky.

The eight remaining teams continue racing in Portugal to Europe's most western point. There, teams open their next clue and discover a Detour which requires them to either rappel down to a shoreline or walk. Teams complete the task and learn that they must drive 250 miles to the port city Algeciras, Spain. Once there, teams must travel by ferry to Tangier, Morocco. While driving, some teams fall behind due to filling up their car with unleaded gasoline instead of diesel. When teams realize their mistake it puts them into shock and denial. Once teams reach Morocco, they must make their way to a travel agency and sign up for one of four charter buses departing one hour apart to the city of Fez. Each bus could only carry three teams. In Fez, teams encounter a Roadblock which involves searching through vats of smelling dye.

The seven remaining teams depart from the Pit Stop in Fez and have to make their way into Casablanca to find the Hussan II mosque. As teams depart, some of them embark on their achievements during the first five legs as well as trying to stay focused through the upcoming legs.

The six teams depart from the Pit Stop in Marrakesh and learn that they need to fly to Munich, Germany, 1,500 miles away. Once there they must make their way to a statue called Friedensengel and locate Kasperle, a famous German and Austrian children's puppet to find their next clue. Teams scramble for flight connections while others get standby tickets. Once there, teams are told to travel 50 miles by train to Innsbruck, Austria where teams discover a Fast Forward, involving a surfer. For one lucky team, this break allows them to travel directly to the Pit Stop. The other five teams encounter a Detour involving either going bobsledding or completing a relay race. Upon completing the task, teams next arrive at the Roadblock location where one team member must descend 230 feet on rescue cable to receive their next clue. All teams excel on this task. Near the end, teams find themselves in a foot race against other teams to avoid last place and a possible elimination, but one team ...

The five remaining teams continue on to Switzerland for the eighth leg. A romantic bond develops between two different team members causing an alliance. When teams arrive in Switzerland they are given a Detour which involved money. Both tasks seem to be quite frustrating for all teams. One team falls behind due to making a costly mistake. Later on, the teams face a Roadblock involving Archery. Most teams are able to complete the task without too many problems. The race to the Pit Stop is a close foot-race for two teams but one could not make in time resulting in their last place finish. However, they receive some great news when they learn that this is the first of three pre-determined Non-Elimination legs.

The five remaining teams continue racing in Switzerland for the ninth leg. Emotions run high when teams are allowed to make a phone call to their loved ones back home. An argument over working with others brings one team to the breaking point amid accusations and threats. One team member taunts another terrified team when they learn they will face a 620-foot bungee jump, the longest in Europe.

The four remaining teams take off from Singapore and are instructed to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and once there, they must search for the Ho Chi Minh Statue at the Rex Square.

The globe-trotting reality series concludes its third edition as the final three teams dash to the finish line and attempted to claim the $1 million first-place prize. We've been extremely lucky now for the third time to create a great finish, says host Phil Keoghan of this leg of the race. You're going to see teams at the highest highs and the lowest lows. The final leg of the 41,000-mile race begins in Vietnam. The teams then make their way to Hawaii and finally to Seattle, Washington.

The best of the reality series crop is back, with 12 teams of 2 players each racing around the world, trying not to be eliminated at a series of checkpoints in which the last team to arrive is booted from the show. CBS chooses teams with relationships containing at least some tension, especially when the situation involves intense pressure. This season includes such duos as two circus clowns, a gay married couple, a father and son, a recently engaged couple, married couples, and best friends. Written by T.J. Magwire