Amazing Race Suomi

Route Markers are yellow and red flags that mark the places where teams must go. Most Route Markers are attached to the boxes that contain clue envelopes, but some may mark the place where the teams must go in order to complete tasks, or may be used to line a course that the teams must follow.

Clues are found throughout the legs in sealed envelopes, normally inside clue boxes. They give teams the information they need and tasks they need to do in order for them to progress through the legs.

• Route Info (Reitti–Info): A general clue that may include a task to be completed by the team before they can receive their next clue.
• Detour (Kiertotie): A choice of two tasks. Teams are free to choose either task or swap tasks if they find one option too difficult.
• Roadblock (Tiesulku): A task only one team member can complete. Teams must choose which member will complete the task based on a brief clue about the task before fully revealing the details of the task.

The teams may be punished for arriving last to the Pit Stop on an non-elimination leg. This could affect their placements next leg.

• Speed Bump (Hidaste): The team that finishes last in a non-elimination leg has to perform a penalty task at some point during the next leg. This task must be completed before the team is allowed to continue racing.

Amazing Race Suomi began from Töölönlahti, a district of Helsinki.

Finnish television network Nelonen held talks with Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri for years on how they could make The Amazing Race format in Finland. After the rights were secured, Moskito Television obtained Jesse McDonald, a producer who had travelled internationally for almost 20 years with the original show, as an executive producer.[5]

The casting for the celebrity teams of the first season finished in early 2023. On 12 April 2023, it was announced that filming would occur during the summer with contestants traveling around the world.[1] On 25 May 2023, it was announced that Heikki Paasonen would host the show, filming of which would start in late July.[6][7] On 24 July 2023, the teams were announced as the race began from Töölönlahti.[3] After leaving Helsinki, teams travelled throughout Southeast Asia to Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.[8] Filming lasted for four weeks and concluded on 16 August 2023.[9] The first trailer of the first season was released on 29 August, which featured a sneak peek about the season, some tasks and locations.[8]

Sponsors for this season include CamelBak, Fjällräven, Free bug repellent, HAI Group, Jack Wolfskin, Makia, Rela tablets and Superdry.[10] The participants' backpacks advert OP Pohjola, a Finnish bank service.

Benchakitti Park in Bangkok served as the first Pit Stop of the season.

• Episode 1: "In the Heart of the Big City" / "Suurkaupungin sykkeessä" (30 September 2023)
• Eliminated: Anna & Atte

Locations

• Helsinki, Finland (Töölönlahti Park (in Finnish)) (Starting Line)
• Helsinki → Bangkok, Thailand
• Bangkok (Benchasiri Park)
• Bangkok (Wat Saket)
• Bangkok (Talat Noi – So Heng Tai Mansion)
• Bangkok (Pak Khlong Talat)
• Bangkok (Wyndham Bangkok Queen Convention Centre)
• Bangkok (Benchakitti Park)

Episode summary

• Teams set off from Töölönlahti in Helsinki. After retrieving their first clue, teams had to match the names, flags and currencies of several countries in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel by taxi or train to Helsinki–Vantaa Airport with only 40 euros, less than what would be normally required for a typical taxi ride to the airport, and fly to Bangkok, Thailand.

Country	Flag	Currency
Czech Republic		Koruna
Malaysia		Ringgit
Mexico		Peso
Thailand		Baht
Tunisia		Dinar

• In Bangkok, teams were released from Suvarnabhumi Airport in the order that they arrived at Helsinki's airport. Teams then travelled to Benchasiri Park in order to find their next clue, a two-baht coin that depicts Wat Saket, by a spirit house.
• In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to find a wrapped paper instructing them to receive their next clue inside one of the hundreds of bells at Wat Saket.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to the So Heng Tai Mansion and fish lotus flowers from a pond until they found one with a miniature Amazing Race flag in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel by long-tail boat to Pak Khlong Talat with only a photograph of a relief as a hint in order to find their next clue.
• This season's first Detour was a choice between Flowers (Kukat ) or Cartons (Kennot ). In Flowers, teams had to string flowers in order to make two phuang malais and receive their next clue. In Cartons, teams had to deliver 20 cartons of intact chicken eggs to a vendor and eat a century egg in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Wyndham Bangkok Queen Convention Centre in order to find their next clue. From the top of the building, teams had to find the Pit Stop: Benchakitti Park.

Teams visited the beaches of Phuket, including Layan Beach for the Detour, during the second leg.

• Episode 2: "An Impossible Challenge" / "Mahdoton haaste" (7 October 2023)
• Eliminated: Aino-Kaisa & Silvia

Locations

• Bangkok (Benchakitti Park)
• Bangkok → Phuket
• Choeng Thale (Cassia Phuket)
• Si Sunthon (Wat Sri Sunthon)
• Choeng Thale (Elephant Retirement Park)
• Choeng Thale (Layan Beach)
• Mai Khao (Wat Mai Khao)
• Mai Khao (Sai Kaew Beach)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel to Phuket. Once there, teams teams were released from Cassia Phuket in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by songthaew to Wat Sri Sunthon and find their next clue by the reclining Buddha. Teams then travelled to the Elephant Retirement Park in order to find their next clue. There, teams had to memorise a recipe for rice balls, choose the correct ingredients from an array and prepare nine rice balls for the elephants in order to receive their next clue directing them to Layan Beach.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Cutting (Hakkuu) or Sand (Hiekka). In Cutting, teams had to use hammers to crack open coconuts until they found one with red dye in order to receive their next clue. In Sand, teams had to dig in a marked area of beach until they found a miniature wooden turtle in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to Wat Mai Khao in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to remain still for 10 minutes while balancing a stack of coins on their backhands and head in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop at Sai Kaew Beach; otherwise they had to start the task again.

The Detour on Thanh Đa Island was set in Bình Quới Village.

• Episode 3: "Local Fun" / "Paikallista hupia" (14 October 2023)
• Medically Removed: Lotta & Noora
• Eliminated: Katariina & Benjamin

Locations

• Choeng Thale (Cassia Phuket)
• Phuket → Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh City (New World Saigon Hotel)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Chung Cư Thanh Đa)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Thanh Đa Restaurant)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Bình Quới Village)
• Ho Chi Minh City (The Bali Coffee & Tea)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Bình An Wharf)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Once there, teams were released from the New World Saigon Hotel in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by taxi to Thanh Đa Island and find their next clue on a cyclo. Teams had to pedal the cyclo along a marked course then travel by taxi to Thanh Đa Restaurant. There, teams had to catch one prawn from the restaurant's indoor pool in order to receive their next clue directing them to Bình Quới Village.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Paddle (Mela) or Sling (Linko). In Paddle, teams had to paddle a basket boat and retrieve ten specifically coloured coconuts from a pond in order to receive their next clue. In Sling, teams had to play a folk game called ném còn and throw a toy through a hoop in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to The Bali Coffee & Tea in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to make a clay bowl in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Bình An Wharf.

Additional notes

• Once in Ho Chi Minh City, Noora & Lotta withdrew from the race under medical advice after they both exhibited health difficulties.[14]
• Although the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop was eliminated, there was no rest period at the end of the leg and all remaining teams were instead instructed to continue racing.

In the Old Saigon area of Ho Chi Minh City, teams visited the Saigon Central Post Office.

• Episode 4: "Shivering Lunch" / "Puistattava lounas" (21 October 2023)

Locations

• Ho Chi Minh City (Bình An Wharf → Bạch Đằng Wharf)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon Central Post Office)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Turtle Lake (in Vietnamese))
• Ho Chi Minh City (Ốc Chị Em Restaurant)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Cà Phê Trứng 3T & Thái Văn Lung Street)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Lam Sơn Square)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to travel by water taxi to Bạch Đằng Wharf and then travel to the Saigon Central Post Office in order to find their next clue directing them to Turtle Lake.
• In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to travel to Ốc Chị Em Restaurant, where one team member had to eat a plate of mealworms, grasshoppers, silkworms, a scorpion, a tarantula and cobra in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in order to find their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Kicks (Potkut ) or Rhythms (Rytmit ). In Kicks, teams had to play đá cầu, a game similar to hacky sack and VIetnam's national sport, and volley a shuttlecock six times in order to receive their next clue. In Rhythms, teams had to perform a lion dance drum routine in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to carry ten sugarcane stalks to a vendor, press them until they could extract enough sugarcane juice to fill a pitcher and then both team member had to drink a glass of juice in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Lam Sơn Square, overlooking the Saigon Opera House.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 5 (Vietnam → Philippines)

• Episode 5: "Buzzing Market" / "Markettipöhinää" (28 October 2023)

Locations

• Ho Chi Minh City → Manila, Philippines

• Indonesia[8]
  • Bali
  • Yogyakarta
• Singapore
• Malaysia
  • Kuala Lumpur

The show drew criticism for including Left Alliance politicians (Nurminen, Pekonen and Modig), who have advocated for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, on a show that includes air travel.[15] Filming of the show also began after the 2023 Greece wildfires on Rhodes, leading to more vocal criticism.[16][17] Prior to the start of filming, producer Pauliina Koutala from Moskito Television stated that the show was made with climate change in mind and that they would be offsetting emissions used for filming, which included having teams fly on airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel and rainforest reclamation at the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve on Borneo.[5] In addition, the production team planned a route in such a way to minimise air travel with alternative forms of transportation on land.[18] In total, all the contestants who reached the final leg travelled about 26,000 kilometres (16,000 mi) by airplanes, roughly corresponding to approximately two round trip flights from Helsinki to New York City.[19] On 14 September 2023, Nurminen, Pekonen and Modig stated at a press event that they understood the criticism and agreed to compete after learning about the flight compensations.[20]

Despite the negative social feedback, many Finnish television consumers were positive towards the first season's contestants with many praising the new and varied faces that have not been on reality television programs before.[21] The fast-paced action and comedic elements of the show were praised, and the Finnish version was very similar and relatable to its original American counterpart.[22]

The following ratings are taken from Finnpanel.[23]