Sixteen contestants are marooned with what they can salvage from a boat for 39 days on an island in Borneo. They've been separated into two teams, the Tagi and Pagong. The first contestant voted off the island is Sonja Christopher.
Stacey and Rudy argue with each other over their behavior in the team. Richard talks openly about being gay. Stacey wins the immunity challenge. B.B. Andersen is voted off the island.
Conflict continues with Dirk's preaching and Rudy's criticism annoying everyone. Hunger is taking its toll, with the Pagong group forced to eat rats. Stacy Stillman is voted off the island.
Gretchen is fed up with sleeping in her team's shelter. Ramona tries to redeem herself, but fails. Sean annoys others building a bowling alley. The Tagi team wins the challenges and immunity. Ramona Gray is voted off the island.
Life among the Pagong is getting tense, but they win a special food prize. A romance blossoms between Colleen and Greg. Gervace wins immunity, so Pagong votes off Dirk Been.
As the two tribes prepare to merge, Richard and Susan decide who should be voted off in the future. The immunity challenge is won by the Tagi tribe. Joel Klug is voted off the island.
On day nineteen, the two tribes merge into one, the Rattana tribe, changing the nature of the game. Jenna and Sean have a summit to determine which camp to live in. Greg wins the immunity challenge. Gretchen Cordy is voted off the island.
The former Tagi tribe members contemplate why the Pagong members picked off Gretchen as food dwindles. Greg dumps Colleen and then starts to make a move on Richard as part of his tactic. Gervace wins immunity. Greg Buis is voted off the island.
The initial excitement over a large catch of fish deteriorates when the food is overcooked. Rudy wins the immunity challenge. Kelly breaks the voting alliance with Colleen, Gervace, and Jenna to vote of Richard, leaving Jenna Lewis voted off the island.
The backstabbing continues as distrust of Richard mounts, but when Richard wins the immunity challenge his alliance continues their voting strategy. Gervase Cordy wins the reward challenge, but is then voted off the island.
The Tagi alliance crumbles as the contestants weary of being on the island. Kelly wins immunity in a balancing contest and Sean wins the reward of a night on the Sipadan Princess. Colleen Haskell is voted off the island.
As the contestants twindle, Kelly wins immunity again and also wins the reward challenge. Sean Kenniff is voted off the island.
With only four contestants left it is everybody for themselves. Kelly wins the immunity challenge. Susan Hawk is voted off the island. Of the remaining three, Richard Hatch wins the game.