The Amazing Race 30 is the thirtieth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world in order to win US$1,000,000. This season visited four continents and ten countries and traveled over 29,000 miles (47,000 km). Starting in New York City, racers traveled through Iceland, Belgium, Morocco, France, the Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Bahrain, Thailand, and Hong Kong before returning to the United States and finishing in the San Francisco Bay Area. New twists introduced in this season include the Head-to-Head, where two teams competed against each other in a task, and a leg where teams swapped partners. The season premiered on CBS on January 3, 2018, and the two-hour season finale aired on February 21, 2018.
As happened before in the twenty-fifth and twenty-seventh seasons, the show's official website announced that they would begin filming on October 1, 2017, at Washington Square Park in New York City, and invited fans to join them as they saw the new teams off.[2] Teams left New York City and were in Iceland by the next day.[3][4] On October 4, the show filmed in Antwerp, Belgium, with footage released online of racers competing in a "Frietrace" at Grote Markt.[5] On October 8, photographs were posted to social media of teams playing pétanque at the Place des Lices in Saint-Tropez, France.[6] On October 16, six teams were reported to be racing in Harare, Zimbabwe, with one task involving them singing at the Harare Gardens.[7] Filming concluded on October 24, 2017, in San Francisco.[8]
This season introduced Head-to-Head competitions, where two teams had to compete directly against one another. Additionally, for the first time, teams swapped partners with another team and ran most of one leg with their swapped partners instead. This season was the first time The Amazing Race visited Bahrain.[9]
Casting
Host Phil Keoghan said that the casting focus for this season was to pick the most competitive lineup of teams in Amazing Race history.[10]
Cody & Jessica appeared on the premiere of Celebrity Big Brother 1, and also on the seventh episode of Big Brother 20, during which they hosted a Power of Veto competition and announced their engagement.[15][16]
Results
The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.
A red placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
An underlined 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.
An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop, but there was no rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were instructed to continue racing. There was no required Speed Bump task in the next leg.
A brown ⊃ indicates that the team used the U-Turn and a brown ⊂ indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn.
A violet + indicates that teams had to swap partners with another team for the majority of that leg.
^Teams had to swap partners for the majority of this leg. The swapped teams and their placements were as follows: 1st: Cody & Jen; 2nd: Brittany & Alex; 3rd: Lucas & Conor; 4th: Daniel & Evan; 5th: Eric & Henry; 6th: Jessica & Kristi
^ abCody & Jessica chose to use the U-Turn on Trevor & Chris.
^ abThis team arrived last at the Pit Stop, but they were instructed to continue racing.
^ abLucas & Brittany chose to use the U-Turn on Cody & Jessica.
^ abAlex & Conor chose to use the U-Turn on Henry & Evan.
^Cedric & Shawn initially arrived 8th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty, because Cedric provided assistance at the Roadblock. Eric & Daniel checked in during this penalty time, dropping Cedric & Shawn to 9th.
Race summary
The route of The Amazing Race 30.
Destinations
Air travel Rail travel Water travel Bus travel Helicopter travel Bicycle travel Gondola travel
Teams had to find their first clue below the waterline of the fountain at Washington Square Park. Teams were instructed to fly to Reykjavík, Iceland. Once there, teams had to drive to the Geitárgljùfur, where one team member had to pull themselves along a zipline high above the Geitá river canyon until they could retrieve an Icelandic flag suspended from the line. After grabbing the flag, their partner had to pull them back to the canyon's edge so they could exchange the flag for their next clue. Teams then had to drive to Esjumelar in order to find their next clue.
In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to ride in an off-road buggy driven by a professional driver in the foothills of Mount Esja. Without taking notes, the team member had to memorize eleven Icelandic letters placed along the riverbed and that each letter had a number denoting its order in the solution. They then had to arrange tiles with those letters in the correct order to spell out their next destination – Ingólfstorg – in order to receive their next clue.
After driving to Ingólfstorg, teams had to find a group of strongmen, where CrossFit Games champion Katrín Davíðsdóttir asked teams two questions about two national tonics. When teams were able to provide the correct answers, one team member had to drink a shot of Brennivín and the other a shot of Þorskalýsi (cod liver oil) in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Iðnaðarmannahúsið along Reykjavíkurtjörn.
Additional notes
At John F. Kennedy International Airport, teams had to book one of two flights to Reykjavík. The seven teams on the first flight arrived 30 minutes ahead of the remaining four teams were on the second flight. This task went unaired in the episode.[17]
Miss Iceland Ólafía Ósk Finnsdóttir appeared as the Pit Stop greeter during this leg.[18]
The race to the Pit Stop mat between Dessie & Kayla and April & Sarah was the closest finish in the history of The Amazing Race. Production had to review video footage to determine which of the two teams actually arrived on the Pit Stop mat first. Phil Keoghan stated: "We have never had a finish this close."[19]
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and then travel by train to Antwerp, Belgium. Once there, teams traveled to The Chocolate Line, where a chocolatier gave them their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to travel to Antwerp's waterfront and find the "SkyClimb", a crane with four suspended rope ladders. One team member had to climb to the top of a free hanging ladder while a crane raised the racers upwards in order to retrieve their next clue before the ride ended.
This season's first Detour was a choice between Old Print or Diamond Glint. In Old Print, teams traveled to the Plantin-Moretus Museum, where they had to arrange type pieces following the example of a provided clue, keeping in mind that the type pieces needed to be arranged as a mirror image of their clue. They then had to carry their template to be printed using a printing press and were given the message as their next clue if it printed correctly. In Diamond Glint, teams traveled to the ADC Building in the Antwerp diamond district, where they had to calculate the value of three diamonds based on their carat, color, and clarity and then add the value to the price of an unfinished necklace in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams were given a clue, written in Dutch, that required them to "go to a large public place where [they would] find the city hall and Silvius Brabo", directing them to the Grote Markt.
In the series' first Head-to-Head, two teams had to compete against each other in a "Frietrace". After both members of each team donned French fry costumes, each team had to nominate one member to run an obstacle course while pushing a dolly carrying eight bags of fries. A team could immediately check in at the nearby Pit Stop after winning a heat, while the losing team had to wait until the next team arrived. The team that lost the final heat was eliminated.
Additional note
Due to limited availability of flights, teams were given tickets on a set of pre-arranged flights to Amsterdam, but they were under no obligation to use them.[20]
Leg 3 (Belgium → Netherlands → Morocco)
The tasks in Tangier were focused in the old Medina quarter and its narrow alleyways.
Episode 3: "It's Gonna Be a Fragrant Day" (January 17, 2018)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by train back to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and then fly to Tangier, Morocco. Once there, teams had to travel to the Medina fishing port, where they had to find a marked crate of fish, transfer the fish into a basket, and then arrange all of the fish as shown in an example in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel on foot into the Medina quarter and find the Kisariate Jbala Souk, where they had to greet a merchant with the Arabic greeting of As-salām Alaykum (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ). They then received their next clue and a TravelocityRoaming Gnome.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had go to the roof of the American Legation Museum and send their gnome over the city to another rooftop via zipline. Racers had to navigate the narrow streets and find the roof where their gnome landed, where they were instructed to travel to the Kasbah Museum and perform the same task again. After finding their gnome for a second time, racers were instructed to find a payphone at a Tele Boutique and use the coins in the gnome's pouch to listen to the phone for the Arabic phrase for "Good Morning": Sabah al-khair (صباح الخير). After repeating this phrase to the shopkeeper, he handed the racers their next clue, which they could only open after reuniting with their partner.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Drop it Off or Shake it Off. In Drop it Off, teams had to travel to a food truck and deliver crates of food by dragging them along the ground to three locations, where they received a receipt stamped with one of the three words in the name of the Pit Stop that they could exchange for their next clue. In Shake it Off, teams had to travel to the Manounia Palace Restaurant, don traditional belly dancing attire, and then dance in the restaurant while searching for the same three words that they had to repeat to the waiter in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Moulay Hafid Palace.
Additional note
This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 4 (Morocco → France)
The Roadblock in Saint-Tropez had racers sailing Optimist dinghies to get their clue.
Episode 4: "Gotta Put Your Sole Into it" (January 24, 2018)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Nice, France. Once there, teams had to drive to the Sailing School Water Company in Saint-Tropez.
For their Speed Bump, Cedric & Shawn had to stack a set of fifteen Optimist dinghies in numerical order before they could continue racing.
In this leg's Roadblock, one member had to attach a sail to an Optimist dinghy and then sail across the bay with the boat's rudder removed to a set of two buoys, each of which contained one half of their next clue. Once they had the two halves, they could return to the shore to reunite with their partner and open their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Bread or Tread. In Bread, teams traveled to La Tarte Tropézienne, where had to form 50 baguettes from 30 pounds (14 kg) of dough to the satisfaction of the baker. In Tread, teams traveled to Sandales Tropéziennes, where each team member had to correctly make a sandal. After either task, teams had to deliver a baked baguette or a finished pair of sandals to a person in a restaurant in order to receive their next clue.[21]
In this leg's Head-to-Head at the Place des Lices, two teams competed in a game of pétanque. Each team member rolled three metal boules to try to get it as close as possible to a smaller ball on the field known as a jack. Once all team members had taken their turns, the team whose ball was closest was the winner and could check in at the nearby Pit Stop. The team that lost the final game was eliminated.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to correctly build a trebuchet from supplied parts and following a provided example in order to receive their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams drove to the Café de la Fontaine, where they had to find a patron drinking red wine with their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Full of Bull or Colorful. In Full of Bull, teams had to check satchels on 100 artificial bulls scattered around the stands of the Arles Amphitheatre to find a total of three ribbons, one in each of the colors of the French flag (blue, white, and red), and exchange them for their next clue. In Colorful, teams traveled to the Pont Van Gogh. There, they found a replica of one of Vincent van Gogh's paintings of the Langlois Bridge at Arles, which was actually an elaborate sliding puzzle that required teams to slide elements of the painting in a specific sequence in order to unlock the easel and retrieve their clue inside.
After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Hotel Benvengudo in Les Baux-de-Provence.
Additional note
Legs 4 and 5 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Prague, Czech Republic. Once there, teams had to find their next clue at the Rudolfinum.
This leg's Detour was a Blind Detour, where teams only learned about the task once they reached its location, and was a choice between This or That. In This, teams traveled to the Staropramen Brewery, where they had to properly re-stack a pallet of empty beer kegs, searching for the one keg that was full. They then had to tap the keg and properly pour a mug of beer to the satisfaction of the brewmaster. Once approved, they had to deliver the keg to the Fidelio, a floating vessel docked alongside the Náplavka Riverbank on the Vltava River. In That, teams traveled to the astronomy hall at Charles University, where they had to listen to two lecturers in English, one debating that the Earth is round and the other that the Earth is flat. Without taking any notes, they then had to pass an oral exam by answering eight questions correctly in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams traveled to the Andělská Lázeň Beer Spa and received their next clue from patrons bathing in beer. Teams then had to travel to Stará Čistírna Odpadních Vod in order to find their next clue.
The leg's Roadblock was a Switchback from season 15, where one team member had to enter a room filled with hundreds of ringing telephones and search for the eight that had a person on the other end of the line. The voice on each phone said one word of a Franz Kafka quote: "The meaning of life is that it stops". Without taking notes, team members had to memorize the eight words and then arrange them in the correct order on a lengthy form in order to receive their next clue.
Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Letenské Park.
Additional note
Cody & Jessica chose to use the U-Turn on Trevor & Chris.
Leg 7 (Czech Republic → Zimbabwe)
In rural Zimbabwe, teams traveled to the Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservancy and ran most of this leg with a swapped partner for the first time.
Episode 6: "All's Fair in Love and War" (February 7, 2018)
Mashonaland East Province (Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservancy – Imire Lake)
Mashonaland East Province (Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservancy – Lookout Tower)
Mashonaland East Province (Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservancy – Savanna Plains Overlook)
Episode summary
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Harare, Zimbabwe. Once there, teams had to travel by train to Marondera and then travel to the Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservancy, where they had to properly set up a provided safari tent and spend the night. They were woken up by Phil Keoghan at 4:00 a.m., and he explained that for the remainder of the leg, they had to switch partners with another team. The swapped teams were as follows: Cody & Jen; Brittany & Alex; Lucas & Conor; Daniel & Evan; Eric & Henry; and Jessica & Kristi.
The newly formed teams then had to paddle a makeshift raft around Imire Lake in order to spot their next clue, which was in a pair of canteens hanging in a tree. When they found the canteens, they could paddle to their next destination.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Rhino Track or Bush Whack. In Rhino Track, teams had to ride horses with a guide along a marked path through the reserve, spotting and collecting eight pieces of evidence along the way left behind by "poachers" in designated locations. Once they collected all eight pieces, they returned to the starting point and had to correctly place the items on a map matching their respective locations in order to receive their next clue. In Bush Whack, teams had to drive an off-road vehicle along a marked course to pick up supplies, including a full canteen of water, at a designated point. The course then continued through two mud bogs, which they had to wade through in order to determine the best place to cross, and then drive the vehicle through the bogs without getting stuck. Once through, teams arrived at a ranger station, where they had to dig up an empty canteen and bury the full one they picked up earlier in its place. After returning to the starting point, teams received their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the savanna plains overlook. Teams had to wait for their original partners to arrive and reunite with them before they could check in. Additionally, Phil informed the newly-reunited teams that the next leg had begun, and they were given their next clue.
Leg 8 (Zimbabwe)
Teams ended the eighth leg in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare at the First Street Pedestrian Mall.
Episode 6: "All's Fair in Love and War" (February 7, 2018)
Prize: A trip for two to Saint Lucia (awarded to Lucas & Brittany)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to return to Harare and find their next clue at Khan Fabrics, Haberdashery, and Sports.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Handle with Care or Just Get it There. In Handle with Care, teams traveled to Eastgate Mall, where they went to the mail room and received seven large packages to carry and deliver to various businesses around the mall. After delivering each, they were given outgoing mail that they had to return to the mail room. Once all of the deliveries were complete, teams received their next clue. In Just Get it There, teams had to locate Magaba Tyres and pick up one small tire and one large truck tire. Teams then had to roll them through the market onto the back of a waiting truck parked nearby in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Harare Gardens in order to find their next clue. There, teams had to choose a vocal coach, who taught them the pronunciation of the Shona lyrics to the Four Brothers song "Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo". They then had to perform the song on stage accompanied by a band with correct pronunciation and rhythm while dancing to the beat in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the First Street Pedestrian Mall.
Additional notes
This leg featured a Double U-Turn. Lucas & Brittany chose to use the U-Turn on Cody & Jessica, while Alex & Conor chose to use the U-Turn on Henry & Evan.
Legs 7 and 8 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.
Leg 9 (Zimbabwe → Bahrain)
After arriving in Muharraq, teams participated in traditional Bahrainiboat-making by weighing the right amount of wood to make a dhow.
Episode 7: "The First Rule of Amazing Race Club" (February 14, 2018)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Manama, Bahrain. Once there, teams had to drive to the dhow shipyard, where they had to carry and place a total of 300 pounds (140 kg) of timber onto a balance scale in order to receive their next clue.
At Hussein Mohammad Showaiter Sweets, teams asked for the "King of Halwa", a local dessert that each team member had to sample in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to Delmon Pottery Industry. There, teams chose a pouch containing ten small objects. They then had to search inside hundreds of clay pots around the shop for the matching items and bring the pots back to the starting point, one at a time, to be verified. Once all of the matching items were collected, teams received a pot to break open which contained their next clue.
Teams had to drive to the Bahrain Endurance Village and choose a camel herder, who showed them how to milk a camel. One team member had to collect enough milk to fill a glass while their partner kept the camel calm in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Tree of Life.
Additional notes
In an unaired task at Bahrain Bay, team members were asked three questions and, without consulting each other, had to answer to whom each question applied. Team members had to answer these questions with one member standing on a plank of a boat floating on the sea. If the answer did not match, then the person on the plank had to dive into the bay and teams had to start over. When teams matched all three answers, they received their next clue.[22]
Lucas discovered that he had lost his passport while on a connecting flight from Zimbabwe to Bahrain. As a result, Lucas & Brittany did not arrive in Bahrain until long after the other teams had already checked in at the Pit Stop. Phil met them at the shipyard to inform them of their elimination.[23]
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Once there, teams were directed to find the white elephants at Royal Park Ratchaphruek, where they found a garland that they had to give to one of four women with an umbrella in the vicinity of the garden in exchange for their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Size It or Seize It. In Size It, teams had to travel to Patara Elephant Farm, where they had to calculate the height and weight of an adult elephant. If the veterinarian deemed their measurements to be correct, teams could ride their elephant along a trail and feed it before receiving their next clue. In Seize It, teams had to catch twenty bullfrogs in a flooded rice paddy in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Original Khum Khantoke Restaurant in order to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to consume three cooked scorpions and a bullfrog while scorpions were crawling on their partner in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Wat Chedi Luang.
Additional notes
This was a non-elimination leg.
Legs 9 and 10 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Hong Kong. Once there, teams traveled to the Lions Pavilion atop Victoria Peak, where they had their picture taken overlooking the Hong Kong skyline. After their photograph was printed, teams were given the photograph and their next clue, which directed them to the Aberdeen Promenade.
For their Speed Bump, Henry & Evan had to light and place flameless candles into forty paper lanterns before they could continue racing.
This season's final Detour was a choice between Hairy Crab or Grub Grab. In Hairy Crab, teams had to properly wrap and pack fifty live hairy crabs in a basket, while subjected to simulated typhoon conditions, in order to receive their next clue. In Grub Grab, one team member had to take eight restaurant orders in Cantonese, and then relay them to their partner in the kitchen, who had to find the corresponding dishes, which were labeled phonetically. Once every patron was served correctly, teams received their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to wear protective equipment and smash a pile of old electronics in order to find the two that each contained half of a clue. Once they found both halves, they then splattered paint over the pile to create a work of "rage art". Meanwhile, the non-participating team member was handcuffed to a briefcase.
After the Roadblock, teams had to search the streets of Lan Kwai Fong for three signs depicting items seen in previous legs and recall the leg numbers where those things were seen: the Washington Square Arch from leg 1, a fez hat from leg 3, and a bull from leg 5. These numbers formed the combination needed to open the briefcase. Inside the briefcase was the key to the handcuffs and the location of the Pit Stop: the intersection of Johnston Road and Wan Chai Road.
Additional note
Alex & Conor were still at Lan Kwai Fong long after the other teams had already checked in at the Pit Stop. Phil went to meet them to inform them of their elimination.[24]
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to San Francisco, California. Once there, teams had to find their next clue near the "Say Hey Kid" Statue, and teams had to figure out that this was the statue of Willie Mays outside AT&T Park. Teams had to paddle kayaks into McCovey Cove and find three numbered baseballs corresponding to the number of career home runs hit by Willie Mays, while San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal threw more balls into the water from the ballpark. Once teams found two 6s and a 0, they received their next clue.
In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to use jumars to pull themselves up 200 feet (61 m) to the top of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge center anchorage. They then had to enter the structure and put on a harness before free falling into the anchorage in order to receive their next clue.
The clue received from the Roadblock was a rebus, and once solved, teams had to travel to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company. There, they had to properly make 102 fortune cookies, after which they received a giant fortune cookie which contained their next clue.
On the USS Hornet, teams had to choose a fuselage of a large model airplane on the flight deck, and then search the aircraft carrier for twelve parts of matching color (two propellers, four wings, four horizontal stabilizers, and two vertical stabilizers) to complete the model. Each part had different pictures depicting objects that teams had encountered during the race. After finding all twelve parts, the team member who did not perform the Roadblock had to assemble the airplane with the correct combination of six parts (one propeller, two wings, two horizontal stabilizers, and one vertical stabilizer) that fit correctly on the fuselage and represented all twelve legs without duplication. Once approved, the team member had to push the airplane to their partner and the team could proceed to the finish line at the opposite end of the flight deck.
Leg
Country
Object
1
Iceland
Off-road helmet
2
Belgium
French fry
3
Morocco
Fish
4
France
Rudder
5
France
Knight
6
Czech Republic
Magnifying glass
7
Zimbabwe
Canteen
8
Zimbabwe
Microphone
9
Bahrain
Scale
10
Thailand
Elephant
11
Hong Kong
Handcuff
12
United States
Oar
Additional notes
After the fortune cookie task, teams were instructed to travel to San Francisco City Hall in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the USS Hornet. This segment was unaired.[25]
Legs 11 and 12 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.
Reception
Critical response
The Amazing Race 30 received mostly positive reviews. Andy Dehnart of reality blurred called it "a decent season of the race."[26] Jodi Walker of Entertainment Weekly was positive towards the teams and competitiveness of this season calling it "a truly great season".[27]Ken Tucker of Yahoo! was critical of this season doubling up episodes and the cliquishness of this season towards the later episodes.[28] In 2023, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the thirteenth-best season.[29] In 2024, Taguiam's ranking was updated with this season ranked 16th out of 36.[30]
Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of The Amazing Race 30
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