The Amazing Race 12
Season 12
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented by	Phil Keoghan
No. of teams	11
Winner	TK Erwin &Rachel Rosales
No. of legs	11
Distance traveled	30,000 mi (48,000 km)
No. of episodes	11[1]
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	November 4, 2007 (2007-11-04)[2] – January 20, 2008 (2008-01-20)
Additional information
Filming dates	July 8 (2007-07-08)[citation needed] – July 29, 2007 (2007-07-29)[3]
Season chronology
← Previous Season 11 Next → Season 13
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 12 is the twelfth season of Americanreality competition showThe Amazing Race. Hosted byPhil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world to win US$1,000,000. This season visited four continents and ten countries and traveled over 30,000 miles (48,000 km) during eleven legs. Starting inLos Angeles, racers traveled throughIreland, theNetherlands,Burkina Faso,Lithuania,Croatia,Italy,India,Japan, andTaiwan before returning to theUnited States and finishing inAnchorage. New twists introduced in this season include the U-Turn, which replaced the Yield and allowed one team to force another team to perform both Detour tasks on a leg, and a new non-elimination leg penalty called the Speed Bump, which is an extra task that the team who finished last had to perform on the subsequent leg. The season premiered onCBS on November 4, 2007, and the finale aired on January 20, 2008.

Newly dating couple TK Erwin and Rachel Rosales were the winners of this season, while father and daughter Ronald and Christina Hsu finished in second place, and grandson and grandfather Nicolas Fulks and Donald Jerousek finished in third place.

In May 2007, CBS confirmedThe Amazing Race was picked up for a twelfth season. It was originally to be scheduled in the mid-season of the2007–08 TV season.^[4] However, whenViva Laughlin was canceled in October,The Amazing Race 12 debuted early to take the time slot.^[5]

The Amazing Race 12 spanned 30,000 miles (48,000 km) in 21 days. The season covered four continents, visiting ten countries (five of which were not previously visited by the series), while traveling entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The newly visited countries wereIreland,Burkina Faso,Lithuania,Croatia, andTaiwan. The shortened filming schedule was initially attributed, in part, to the removal of non-elimination legs, which would have been a first onThe Amazing Race.^[1] However, hostPhil Keoghan told Kynt & Vyxsin in the seventh leg that there were two non-elimination legs this season.

This season introduced two new twists toThe Amazing Race: theU-Turn and theSpeed Bump. Positioned just after a Detour, the U-Turn allowed one team to force another team behind them to complete both sides of the Detour.^[6] The Speed Bump was a penalty task for a team that finished last in a non-elimination leg, and had to be completed during the next leg in addition to other tasks. The U-Turn and the Speed Bump each occurred in two episodes ofThe Amazing Race 12.

Two days after the series premiere, CBS launched anAmazing Race page onsocial networking siteFacebook via Facebook Ads.^[7] The site contained interactive contents such as maps, trivia, a travel log, and prizes. The site also included a tie-in with theWhere I've Been application.

This season's eleven teams included married lesbian ministers, datingGoths, and siblings. Executive producerBertram van Munster felt that "it was not intentional" for casting to leave out young-male teams commonly found in past seasons. He also said that it was pure coincidence for 15 of 22 racers to be residents of California.^[1]

DuringThe Amazing Race: Unfinished Business, Christina Hsu revealed that she was engaged to Azaria Azene. They married in March 2011.^[8]

Future appearances

After the season ended, Kynt & Vyxsin applied forthird season ofThe Amazing Race Asia but were turned down by producer Michael McKay due to their priorAmazing Race experience. Their audition was shown on the "Racers Revealed" episode of the season.^[9] Kynt & Vyxsin and Ronald & Christina competed again onThe Amazing Race: Unfinished Business, with Kynt having changed his name to Kent.^[10]

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.

• Ared placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
• Anunderlined blue 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.
• Agreen ƒ indicates that the team won the Fast Forward.
• Abrown ⊃ indicates that the team used the U-Turn; abrown ⊂ indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn.

Notes

Destinations	Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers	Detour   Roadblock   Fast Forward   U-Turn   Speed Bump   Pit Stop

• Episode 1: "Donkeys Have Souls Too" (November 4, 2007)
• Prize: A trip for two to theBanff Springs Hotel inAlberta, Canada (awarded to Azaria & Hendekea)
• Eliminated: Ari & Staella

Locations

• Los Angeles, California (Playboy Mansion) (Starting Line)
• Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport) →Shannon, Ireland
• Rossaveal →Cill Rónáin
• Inishmore (Teampall Bheanáin)
• Cill Rónáin → Rossaveal (Rossaveal Ferry Port)
• Cleggan (Cleggan Farm)
• Clifden (Connemara Heritage and History Centre)

Episode summary

• Teams set off from thePlayboy Mansion inLos Angeles, California, and drove toLos Angeles International Airport, where they had to book one of two flights toShannon, Ireland. Five teams were booked on aBritish Airways flight scheduled to arrive 45 minutes earlier than anAer Lingus flight that carried the remaining six teams. However, the British Airways flight was delayed during its connection inLondon, allowing the Aer Lingus flight to arrive in Shannon first. Once there, teams had to travel by ferry to the island ofInishmore and find theTeampall Bheanáin. At the church, teams had to sign up for one of three ferries departing the next morning.
• After returning to the Irish mainland, teams found a marked car with their next clue and had to drive themselves to Cleggan Farm. There, teams had to pedal atandem bicycle along a dirt path to their next clue.
• In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to pedal a high-wire bicycle across a ravine, suspended almost 200 feet (60 m) above theNorth Atlantic, in order to reach their next clue. Their partner, sitting eight feet (2.4 m) below, was taken along for the ride.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to choose a donkey, fill each of its baskets with 15 pieces ofpeat, and then walk the donkey back to the entrance of the farm in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: theConnemara Heritage and History Centre inClifden.

• Episode 2: "I've Become the Archie Bunker of the Home" (November 11, 2007)
• Prize: A sport bike for each racer (awarded to Lorena & Jason)
• Eliminated: Kate & Pat

Locations

• Clifden (Connemara Heritage and History Centre)
• Shannon →Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Amsterdam (Amsterdam Centraal Station)
• Amsterdam (Melkmeisjesbrug)
• Amsterdam →Ransdorp (Rural Field)
• Durgerdam (Durgerdam Yacht Club)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toAmsterdam, Netherlands. Once there, teams had to travel by train to theAmsterdam Centraal Station and then search for their next clue on theMelkmeisjesbrug.
• This season's first Detour was a choice betweenHoist It orHunt It. InHoist It, teams had to use a traditional rope-and-pulley system to hoist five pieces of furniture up to an apartment in order to receive their next clue. InHunt It, teams had to travel on foot several blocks to theFietsflat bicycle parking lot and search through thousands of bicycles for two tagged with the specific color designated in their clue. After finding their bicycles, teams had to ride them five miles (8.0 km) to an attendant, who gave them their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel by bus to a marked field inRansdorp, where they found their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to play a sport calledfierljeppen, which involved completing a 12-foot (3.7 m) vault across an irrigation ditch and landing on both feet in the marshy grass. Once racers completed the vault correctly, they could pick up their clue and vault back to their partner.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to ridecargo bikes known as abakfiets to the Pit Stop at the Yacht Club inDurgerdam.

Additional note

• Thefierljeppen task was later revisited inseason 21 as a Switchback.

• Episode 3: "Please, Lord, Give Me Milk" (November 18, 2007)
• Prize: A vacation toBermuda (awarded to Azaria & Hendekea)
• Eliminated: Marianna & Julia

Locations

• Durgerdam (Durgerdam Yacht Club)
• Amsterdam →Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• Ouagadougou (Gare de Ouagadougou(in French)) →Bingo
• Bingo (Village School)
• Bingo (Village Outskirts)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were only told to fly toOuagadougou, and they had to figure out that it was the capital ofBurkina Faso. Once there, teams had to travel by taxi to the train station, where they found their next clue. Teams were directed to travel by train toBingo and listen for their stop, as the town of Bingo did not have an actual station. After disembarking, teams had to search nearby for their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to milk a camel and collect the milk in a driedgourd. Once they had enough milk, they had to drink the milk in order to receive their next clue. If team members were unable to obtain enough milk from their chosen camel, they had to wait until everyone who could complete the task had left before switching camels.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to lead four camels along a marked path to a group of nomads, where they found their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenTeach It orLearn It. InTeach It, teams had to teach a schoolchild, who did not speak English, ten English words. When a local teacher was satisfied that the child could recite the words, teams received their next clue. InLearn It, teams had to learn ten words in the localMoré language from a schoolchild and then recite the words in a test to a local teacher in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to follow a marked path to the outskirts of Bingo and find the Pit Stop.

• Episode 4: "Let's Name Our Chicken Phil" (November 25, 2007)
• Prize: AYamaha Motor Scooter for each racer (awarded to Azaria & Hendekea)
• Eliminated: Lorena & Jason

Locations

• Bingo (Village Outskirts)
• Bingo (Village)
• Yako (Village Field)
• Yako (Pelegtanga Market)
• Ouagadougou (Tampouy Goat Market)
• Ouagadougou (Hôtel de Ville)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to follow a marked path to a tribal chief, who gave them their next clue, as well as achicken that they had to carry with them throughout the entire leg. Teams then had to travel to a field inYako, where they found their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenShake Your Pans orShake Your Booty. InShake Your Pans, teams had to use traditional methods topan for one troy ounce (31 g) ofgold that they could trade for their next clue. InShake Your Booty, teams had to learn a traditional local dance and perform it withWiniama masked dancers for a crowd of locals. Teams only had one attempt, and if the three judges felt that a team lacked creativity or had a bad performance, they incurred a 10-minute penalty. After successfully performing the dance or waiting out the penalty, teams received their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel along a marked path to the Pelegtanga Market in order to find their next clue. Teams then had to travel to the Tampouy Goat Market inOuagadougou in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to load a large amount of cumbersome goods, including a small goat, onto a bicycle and then deliver the goods to a nearby market in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: the Hôtel de Ville in Ouagadougou.

Additional note

• Shana & Jennifer chose to use the U-Turn on Lorena & Jason.

• Episode 5: "We Really Burned Bridges, For Sure" (December 2, 2007)
• Prize: A trip for two toJapan (awarded to TK & Rachel)
• Eliminated: Shana & Jennifer

Locations

• Ouagadougou (Hôtel de Ville)
• Ouagadougou →Vilnius, Lithuania
• Vilnius (Trakai Island Castle) (Unaired)^[11]
• Vilnius (St. Anne's Church)
• Vilnius (Old Town – Narutis Courtyard,Vilnius University Courtyard & Several Locations)
• Rumšiškės (Lithuanian Open Air Museum –Dzūkija Village)
• Rumšiškės (Lithuanian Open Air Museum –Račkiškės Chapel(in Lithuanian))
• Rumšiškės (Lithuanian Open Air Museum –Aukštaitija Windmill)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toVilnius, Lithuania. Once there, teams had to drive toSt. Anne's Church in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose a local Lithuanian woman working in the Narutis courtyard, who gave them a basket and told them whom to take it to theVilnius University Courtyard. After traveling on foot through the confusing streets of theVilnius Old Town and delivering their basket, they were then handed a book and one of four final destinations: Gabi Kavine, Saint Germain Restaurant,Hair Salon Sidabrynas, or the Shakespeare Hotel. When the delivery was made to the correct location, they received their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to theLithuanian Open Air Museum inRumšiškės, where they had to search through the village for aTravelocityRoaming Gnome, as depicted in a picture in their clue, hidden among 100 common Lithuanian gnomes. When teams found the correct gnome, they had to follow a marked path to their next clue box at a chapel. Teams had to carry their gnome with them for the remainder of this leg.
• This leg's Detour at a traditionalMidsummer's Festival was a choice betweenCount Down orStep Up. InCount Down, teams had to correctly count a marked section ofpicket fence and give their count to a villager in order to receive their next clue. InStep Up, both team members had to walk onstilts along a marked course to the finish line without falling in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: theAukštaitija Windmill.

Additional notes

• Teams had to book tickets at an official airline ticketing office before being allowed to enterOuagadougou Airport.
• After arriving in Vilnius, teams actually had to drive themselves toTrakai Island Castle in order to find their next clue, which directed them to St. Anne's Church. This task was unaired, and teams were shown driving to St. Anne's Church directly after arriving in Vilnius.^[11]

• Episode 6: "Cherry on Top of the Sundae That's Already Melted" (December 9, 2007)
• Prize: Acatamaran for each racer (awarded to Ronald & Christina)
• Eliminated: Azaria & Hendekea

Locations

• Rumšiškės (Lithuanian Open Air Museum –Aukštaitija Windmill)
• Vilnius →Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Dubrovnik (Fort of St. Lawrence)
• Dubrovnik (Walls of Dubrovnik –Fort Bokar)
• Dubrovnik (Trg Oružja)
• Dubrovnik (Fort Imperial – Stone Cross)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toDubrovnik, Croatia. Once there, teams had to travel to the base of theFort of St. Lawrence in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to find one of eight stones out of 150 that could fit into the rock wall at the fort being rebuilt from theCroatian War of Independence in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to go to the Fort of St. Lawrence's roof and ride azip-line down toFort Bokar in order to receive their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenShort & Long orLong & Short. InShort & Long, teams had to rappel down the walls of Fort Bokar and follow a marked path to a wall, where they had to finish assembling a rope ladder that they could use to scale the wall.^[12] They then had to travel on foot a long distance through the confusing old-quarter streets to Trg Oružja in order to find their next clue. InLong & Short, teams had to tandem zip-line from the fort, swim to a floating platform, and then row a fishing boat around the city walls to a flagged harbor. They then had to travel on foot a short distance to Trg Oružja in order to find their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the stone cross atFort Imperial.

• Episode 7: "This is Forever, Now" (December 23, 2007)
• Prize: A trip for two toCancún, Mexico (awarded to Nicolas & Donald)

Locations

• Dubrovnik (Fort Imperial – Stone Cross)
• Dubrovnik →Split
• Split →Ancona, Italy (Ancona Ferry Terminal)
• Empoli (Campo di Volo Silvano Poli)
• Empoli (Fabio Studio)
• Vinci (Da Vinci Birthplace(in Italian))
• Vinci (Da Vinci Birthplaceor Piazza Guido Masi)
• Florence (Boboli Gardens)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by bus toSplit, and then by ferry toAncona, Italy, where they found their next clue. Teams had to drive to the Campo di Volo Silvano Poli inEmpoli, where they found their next clue. Teams also received aBlackBerry, which gave them a message from their loved ones at home.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to fly overTuscany in anultralight and scan a six-mile (10 km) radius of the countryside for the name of their next destination:Vinci. If team members thought they spotted the word, they had to signal their pilot to land. Once on the ground, they had to tell the instructor the word, and if they were correct, he handed them their next clue. There was a thirty-minute time limit per flight, after which the ultralight had to land for refueling.
• In this season's only Fast Forward, one team had to drive to Fabio Studio and have a permanenttattoo inked onto their arms: the lettersƒƒ. Nicolas & Donald won the Fast Forward.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to Vinci and find their next clue outside the birthplace ofLeonardo da Vinci.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenInvention orTradition. InInvention, teams traveled to a nearby courtyard and chose a replica of a centuries-old crane designed by Leonardo da Vinci. They had to first assemble the crane and then use it to lift a large stone one foot (30 cm) off the ground. They then had to place a mirror underneath in order to read the clue printed on the bottom of the stone. InTradition, teams traveled to the Piazza Guido Masi, where they had to learn and correctly perform a traditional localflag throwing routine in order to receive a flag displaying the name of their next destination.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: theBoboli Gardens inFlorence.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

Bandra Fort, aPortuguese fort on the shoreline ofMumbai, served as the Pit Stop of this leg.

• Episode 8: "Honestly, They Have Witch Powers or Something!" (December 30, 2007)
• Prize: A trip for two toSaint Martin (awarded to TK & Rachel)
• Eliminated: Kynt & Vyxsin

Locations

• Florence (Boboli Gardens)
• Florence →Mumbai, India
• Mumbai (Khar Danda – M.R. Naik Newspaper Stall)
• Mumbai (Chauhan Alteration Tailors)
• Mumbai (Dariya Mahal)
• Mumbai (Dadar West BridgeorDadar Flower Market)
• Mumbai (Kabutar Khana)
• Mumbai (Colaba – Bharatgas Colaba Gas Service)
• Mumbai (Bandra –Bandra Fort)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toMumbai, India. Once there, teams had to find the M.R. Naik Newspaper Stall and then had search for an advertisement^[13] inThe Times of India, which instructed them to travel byauto rickshaw to Chauhan Alteration Tailors in order to receive their next clue.
• For their Speed Bump, Kynt & Vyxsin had to find the yoga master at Dariya Mahal and successfully perform a series ofyoga poses before they could continue racing.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenPaste 'Em orThread 'Em. InPaste 'Em, teams had to travel to a marked underpass beneath theDadar West Bridge and use provided supplies to properly paste a six-panelBollywood movie poster onto the wall in order to receive their next clue. InThread 'Em, teams had to travel to theDadar Flower Market, find a marked flower stall, and create a traditional weddinggarland by threading 108 flowers in a particular pattern. When the judge approved the garland, teams had to deliver it to a nearby bridegroom, who gave them their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel toKabutar Khana, where they found their next clue. Teams then had to travel to the Bharatgas Colaba Gas Service in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to load a bicycle cart with six tanks ofpropane gas, pedal to two addresses listed on their order slips, deliver three tanks to each address, and collect receipts as proof of delivery. Once their deliveries were complete, they had to hand their two order slips and receipts to the foreman in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop:Bandra Fort.

Additional note

• Kynt & Vyxsin attempted to use the U-Turn on Nicolas & Donald; however, Nicolas & Donald had already passed the U-Turn by this point and were therefore unaffected.

• Episode 9: "I Just Hope He Doesn't Croak on Us" (January 6, 2008)
• Prize: Anelectric car for each racer (awarded to Ronald & Christina)

Locations

• Mumbai (Bandra –Bandra Fort)
• Mumbai →Osaka, Japan
• Kishiwada (Kishiwada Castle)
• Osaka (JRNoda Station & Osaka Central Post Office)
• Osaka (Kita-Mido Temple(in Japanese))
• Osaka (Shimojima Buildingor Saera Flower Shop)
• Osaka (Tempozan Park)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toOsaka, Japan. Once there, teams had to travel toKishiwada Castle and search the grounds for their next clue, which directed teams to theNoda Station. There, teams had to locate ajanitor inside the terminal, who handed them their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Japanese couple five miles (8 km) through a maze of confusing one-way streets to a specified address: the Osaka Central Post Office. They could stop and ask for directions, but could not invite a local to lead them or join them in the car, nor could the couple help them. Once they arrived at the post office, the couple handed them their next clue; however, they had to return to their teammate before they could read the clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by taxi to Kita-Mido Temple in order to find their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenSense of Touch orSense of Smell. InSense of Touch, teams traveled on foot to the Shimojima Building and had to use miniature robots, controlled by cell phones, to play a game of soccer against two robotic defenders. Once each team member scored a goal, the referee gave them their next clue. InSense of Smell, teams traveled on foot to the Saera Flower Shop, which only soldartificial flowers. Once there, they had to use only their noses to find one real flower, hidden amongst thousands of artificial flowers, in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop:Tempozan Park.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

• Episode 10: "Sorry, Guys, I'm Not Happy to See You" (January 13, 2008)
• Prize: A five-night vacation toCuraçao (awarded to Ronald & Christina)
• Eliminated: Nathan & Jennifer

Locations

• Osaka (Tempozan Park)
• Osaka (Umeda Sky Building – Floating Garden)
• Osaka →Taipei, Taiwan
• Taipei (Taipei Main Station)
• Taipei →Taichung
• Jiji (Acrobatics Jeep)
• Jiji (Heping Elementary School)
• Taichung → Taipei
• Taipei (GK Teahouse)
• Taipei (Gong Guan Night Market)
• Taipei (Youth Park(in Chinese))
• Taipei (Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel to theUmeda Sky Building, take an elevator to the Floating Garden, and search for their next clue. They were then instructed to fly toTaipei, Taiwan. Once there, teams had to travel toTaipei Main Station to search outside the station in order to find their next clue, instructed to travel bytrain toTaichung and then taxi to Acrobatics Jeep inJiji, where they found their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to ride in a car driven by a professional stunt driver, who maneuvered the vehicle onto a giantteeter-totter and then rocked back and forth precariously 25 feet (7.5 m) above the ground. Afterwards, they switched to anamphibious car, donned a pair of goggles, and had to hold their breath while they were driven underwater for seventeen seconds before receiving their next clue.
• For their Speed Bump, TK & Rachel had to find Heping Elementary School, don protective gear, run through a barrage offireworks, and then get doused with water before they could continue racing.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by train back to Taipei and find the GK Teahouse. There, each team member had to drink a cup oftea in order to find their next clue written inChinese on the bottom of the teacup. Teams were directed to theGong Guan Night Market, where they searched for a clown who gave them their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice betweenFire orEarth. InFire, teams would have traveled toZhongzheng Park to participate in a mystical Chinese ritual by writing messages of luck onKongming lanterns. Once a team had sent twenty lanterns into the air, they would have received their next clue. InEarth, teams traveled to Youth Park, where they had to walkbarefoot down a 220-foot (67 m) path made of jagged stones, turn around, and then walk back to the start in order to receive their next clue. All teams choseEarth.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop:Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

• Episode 11: "The Final Push" (January 20, 2008)
• Prize: US$1,000,000
• Winners: TK & Rachel
• Runners-up: Ronald & Christina
• Third place: Nicolas & Donald

Locations

• Taipei (Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall)
• Taipei →Anchorage, Alaska
• Anchorage (6th Avenue Outfitters)
• Anchorage (Ship Creek Boat Launch)
• Anchorage (Twentymile River → Twenty-Mile Glacier)
• Anchorage (Twenty-Mile Glacier →Merrill Field)
• Anchorage (Goose Lake Park)
• Anchorage (Resolution Park –Captain Cook Statue)
• Anchorage (Alaska Center for the Performing Arts – Salmon Hooker Statue)
• Girdwood (Girdwood Airport)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toAnchorage, Alaska. Once there, teams had to find 6th Avenue Outfitters, where they picked up the gear they would need for this leg along with their next clue. They then traveled to the Ship Creek Boat Launch, where they found their next clue.
• This season's final Detour was a choice betweenCut the Cod orGrab the Crab. InCut the Cod, teams had to cut through several 50-pound (23 kg)lingcod and search for a miniature clue hidden inside one of the fish. InGrab the Crab, teams had to jump into the hold of a boat swarming with over 500 livecrabs. They then had to search through the crabs for one marked withAmazing Race colors in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams traveled to theTwentymile River, where they took a high-speed boat to the Twenty-Mile Glacier. Once there, both team members had toclimb a wall of ice in order to reach their next clue. Teams were instructed to travel via helicopter toMerrill Field and then by taxi toGoose Lake Park in order to find their next clue.
• In this season's final Roadblock, one team member found a field of objects that they had encountered along the racecourse. They had to match 10 of 15 recognizable items to their respective legs, but the combination of items had to meet the following requirements. Only one combination of items satisfied the conditions and opened the clue box, allowing racers to retrieve their next clue.
  • Three items had to be animals or animal byproducts.
  • One had to be a U-Turn.
  • Two had to be items either at or brought to a Pit Stop.
  • Two had to be items of transportation with wheels, one of which was used at a Detour.
  • One had to be an item of transportation resembling the shape of a stick.

Leg	Country	Objects
1	Ireland	Tandem Bicycle
2	Netherlands	Bicycle
3	Burkina Faso	Camel Milk
4		Chicken
5	Lithuania	Stilts
6	Croatia	Croatian Gun
7	Italy	BlackBerry
8	India	U-Turn Board
9	Japan	Janitor
10	Taiwan	Tea

• After the Roadblock, teams were told to travel to "Cook's Eye View of theSleeping Lady", which referred to theCaptain Cook Statue at Resolution Park. There, teams found their next clue. Teams then had to search on foot for the Salmon Hooker Statue at theAlaska Center for the Performing Arts, where they found their final clue directing them to the finish line atGirdwood Airport.

The first five teams eliminated were sequestered at avilla inPortugal to await the finale. Subsequently, eliminated teams telephoned to inform the teams at the villa of their elimination, but continued to run the race as decoys to throw off potential spoilers. The sequestered teams met up with the decoy teams in the final destination city to cheer on the final three teams as they crossed the Finish Line.

CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode aired in thePacific Time Zone, which showed the eliminated teams interacting at the villa.

• After Leg 1, Ari & Staella were the first team eliminated and sent to the villa, where they explored the house and contemplated their unfortunate first leg. They predicted one of the older teams would be eliminated next and that Lorena & Jason would win.
• After Leg 2, Kate & Pat were the second team eliminated and sent to the villa. They discussed their opinions of the other racers with Ari and Staella. Ari was unhappy when Kate and Pat criticized his negative views, if not insults, of some of the racers.
• After Leg 3, Marianna & Julia were the third team eliminated and sent to the villa. Once again, Ari grew irritated with Kate and Pat – this time because he felt that they were dominating the conversations with Marianna and Julia. At the end of the day, Ari, Staella, Marianna, and Julia all went out to party while Kate and Pat opted to stay behind, much to Ari's delight.
• After Leg 4, Lorena & Jason were the fourth team eliminated and sent to the villa, and they were excited to finally relax. Everyone was shocked and disappointed to see that they had been eliminated. At the beach, Lorena, Jason, Ari, Staella, Marianna, and Julia went cliff-jumping with some Portuguese locals; Kate and Pat were asked to stay out of camera range so production could make it look like they went to a castle/museum alone. In fact, all teams went to the castle together.
• After Leg 5, Shana & Jennifer were the fifth team eliminated and sent to the villa. They immediately apologized to Lorena & Jason for using the U-Turn, though Lorena and Jason were a little skeptical to their reasoning. Marianna & Julia made a beautiful burntbarbecue feast for the new arrival team and later Shana & Jennifer shared their thoughts about who would be eliminated next, saying it would be Nicolas & Donald.
• After Leg 6, Azaria & Hendekea were the sixth team eliminated. They called the villa and shared news about the season with the other eliminated teams. All the teams were shocked when they found out Azaria & Hendekea were eliminated. Lorena & Jason got along with Shana & Jennifer in the villa while later on, all the sequestered teams went out to sea on a boat.
• Leg 7 was a non-elimination leg. Meanwhile, the five sequestered teams enjoyed various outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking, zip-lining and mountain biking. Later, they were given a taste of local Portuguese food and culture.
• After Leg 8, Kynt & Vyxsin were the seventh team eliminated. They called the villa, where teams were shocked at their elimination. As the Goths explained what went wrong in their Mumbai leg, they also expressed how well teams like Nicolas & Donald and Ronald & Christina were doing. Then, as the sequestered teams realized their time in the villa would soon end, everyone went out for a little poolside fun.
• Leg 9 was a non-elimination leg. After one last staged visit to a Portuguese vineyard, the sequestered teams pack-up, and wonder what it will be like back home.
• After Leg 10, Nathan & Jennifer were the eighth and final team to be eliminated. They called after the five sequestered teams arrived in Alaska, where the season would end. After the call, each team gave their opinion on who they wanted to see win.
• Leg 11 was the final leg ofThe Amazing Race 12. Azaria & Hendekea, Kynt & Vyxsin, and Nathan & Jennifer reunited with the rest of the eliminated teams. Some of the eliminated teams shared their opinions on the winners and the runners-up. The final three admit to their final joys and disappointments.

The Amazing Race 12 received positive reviews.Linda Holmes ofTelevision Without Pity called it a good season.^[14]Heather Havrilesky ofSalon was positive towards this season's cast writing "there are some pretty amusing teams this season".^[15] In 2016, this season was ranked 6th out of the first 27 seasons by theRob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.^[16] In 2021, Jane Andrews ofGossip Cop ranked this season as the show's 9th best season.^[17] Val Barone ofTheThings ranked this season as the show's 3rd best season.^[18] In 2024, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season 11th out of 36.^[19]

U.S. Nielsen ratings

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