Twenty contestants arrive at the islands of Palau, where the first man and woman ashore are granted immunity. The contestants are then separated into two groups of nine, the Ulong Tribe and the Korr Tribe. Jonathan Libby and Wanda Shirk, left out of the tribes, are sent home. After the first challenge, the losers vote out Jolanda Jones.
Stephenie wins the reward challenge for her team and gets to swim with jellyfish. Janu starts to question her ability to survive. The Koror team wins immunity. James Miller is voted out.
Rats infest the camps. Angie feels like an outsider in her tribe but redeems herself in the rewards challenge. Jeff and Kim start a relationship. Ashlee Ashby is voted out of the game.
Caryn and Katie clash. Ulong wins the rewards challenge, but Kim's laziness bothers others. Jeff Wilson sprains his ankle and drops out of the immunity challenge. Jeff hopes to be voted out and gets his wish.
The tribes have to decide on a leader to compete in building a bathroom in the hopes of winning a shelter. Koror wins their fourth immunity challenge. Kim Mullen is voted off the island.
Angie considers quitting. Willard is accused of getting a free ride. Koror wins the reward challenge when Ibrehem filas. Willard Smith and Angie Jakusz are voted off the island.
Tom gets a shark for dinner. Koror wins the reward challenge of wine and dinner. Jenn and Gregg's romance starts to worry the others. Koror once again wins immunity. Ibrehem Rahman is voted out of the game.
Coby is fed up with Janu and the other women of his tribe. Stephenie wins immunity over Bobby Jon Drinkard and, after he is sent home, she finds out she will remain the sole survivor of her tribe.
Stephenie was left alone and then finds out she gets to merge with the Koror Tribe. Palau fisherman teach the tribe to fish. Coby revealed to Stephenie that Jenn wants to kick her out. Tom wins immunity. Coby Archa is voted off the island.
Janu is fed up with her tribe and the others are fed up with her. The reward winners get a feast of local delicacies. Stephenie tries to win immunity, but Tom gets it. Janu is left allow after losing first. Janu Tornell volunteers to leave the island and join the tribal jury, allowing Stephenie another chance to stay.
The men are on edge with Stephenie still in the game. Tom sees himself vulnerable, but Ian is the one able to get immunity. Seeing her as the biggest threat, Stephenie LaGrossa is voted out of the game.
Caryn plays her cards to try to stay in the game. Ian makes a promise to Katie. Gregg wins the reward challenge, taking Katie and Jenn to eat lunch on a yacht. Ian wins the immunity challenge. Gregg Carey is eliminated.
Caryn Groedel is voted out of the game leaving four final contestants.
Jenn Lyonn and Ian Rosenberger are eliminated, leaving two contestants in the running to win a million dollars. After 39 days on the island, Tom Westman beats out Katie Gallagher to win the title of Survivor.