Race Across the World

Five intrepid duos are tasked with undertaking the trip of a lifetime, racing over 14,000km across the world's largest continent, Asia, taking in three of its nations – China, Nepal and India. Teams begin the race at Huanghuacheng Reservoir Dam, Beijing, China and race to the first checkpoint at Huangling Shaiqiu Hotel, Jiangxi, China.

The teams set out on their journey to the second checkpoint in Sanya, one of China's most southerly cities, located on Hainan Island. To get there, the teams must choose between city-hopping down the coast of the East China Sea or venturing inland on a more rural route that takes in some of China's most impressive landscapes but it's a race against time as a fast-approaching typhoon threatens to stop all ferries to the island.

In the third leg, the five pairs are challenged to race from the island checkpoint of Sanya to the mysterious Shangri-La, a city sitting on the edge of the Tibetan plateau towards the foothills of the Himalayas. As race leaders Elizabeth and Letitia check out, ex-married couple Yin and Gaz have only just made it in, having been stuck on the mainland unable to cross. With an almighty 44-hour gap between first and last place, Yin and Gaz know they have a mountain to climb to remain in the race, but are determined to come out for leg three fighting

The teams discover they are headed to Varanasi, one of the world's oldest living cities - and with one pair almost 24 hours in front, the others are desperate to close the gap. The journey takes the competitors through three countries - China, Nepal and India - and with the mighty Himalayas in their way, they are required to fly to Kathmandu to continue the race.