For the first time, a former team surprises racers as judges; one team member must traverse a tightrope stretched from one rooftop to another at the historic Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles before heading to their first location, Thailand.

Teams dive deeper into the countryside of Thailand for the second leg of the race, encountering catfish-infested waters and pomelo-filled rivers.

The teams feel the strain of commercial travel and float their way through the Mekong Delta as they are challenged between making rice paper or customizing a scooter by wrapping it in vinyl in Vietnam.

Teams continue racing in Vietnam and face the hustle and bustle of a congested Vietnamese market, where they must properly set up a fish stand and deliver mattresses to a local hotel.

For the first time, the votes for the mandatory U-turn are in and one team must complete both detours in India, bundling up flowers and transporting building materials on rickshaws in the bustling streets of Jaipur.

Having experienced the U-turn in India, relationships are tested as teams take on their first self-drive leg in Germany. Also, teams rappel down a castle wall and use their taste buds to identify different mustards.

For the first time, teams visit the country of Slovenia. Racers soar to new heights in glider planes, experience roadblock surprises, and battle to remain in the race.

Teams continue racing in Slovenia, carefully traveling on foot carrying wooden pieces on their back, descending deep into a cave to assemble a giant dragon, and scraping off mussels and barnacles in the waters.

Teams travel 1,000 miles from Slovenia to Sweden where they must face their fears and skydive from 10,000 feet over the Baltic sea, recreate a midsummer tradition, and sort through recyclable items.

Teams travel to Dublin, Ireland, where they complete four challenges in the penultimate leg, including swimming in the Irish Sea, dancing with the legendary Riverdance troupe, scoring a point with the hurling team, and reciting quotes from a famed Irish novelist

The final three teams travel to Seattle, where they must complete three challenges in a scramble leg, a first in AMAZING RACE history. The challenges are inspired by Seattle’s art scene and include swinging from a high trapeze, glassblowing and being a roadie for a grunge band. The team that successfully completes these challenges and arrives first will win the $1 million prize, on the season finale.