After a journey to a Thai village, the new contestants are informed that the eldest male and female contestants get to pick their tribemates. Tanya finds herself feeling suddenly ill. Tempers flare up about shelter building. When the Chuay Gahn tribe loses, they send John Raymond home first.
Divisions form in the Sook Jai tribe between Stephanie, Robb, and Jed, but still the tribe wins the first reward challenge. The first reward is a fishing net. They then win the immunity challenge, so the Chuay Gahn tribe is forced to send home another member: the ill Tanya Vance.
Divisions at the Sook Jai tribe continue between Robb and Shii Ann, while Clay has clash personalities with Ghandia. Robb strangles Clay during the rewards challenge and is disqualified. Jake and Shii Ann lose the immunity challenge on purpose so they can send Jed Hildebrand home.
Stephanie anger at Jed's being sent home causes further ripples in the Sook Jai tribe. At the Chuay Gahn tribe, the divisions seem to be along gender lines. The Sook Jai tribe wins a reward of bananas, while the losing team blames Jan and Ghandia for the loss. When the Chuay Gahn tribe loses immunity they send home Ghandia Johnson.
Robb is stung by a stingray while in the ocean and Shii Ann refuses to coddle him. At the rewards challenge a couple contestants consider switching sides when offered, but everyone stays in their tribe. The Chuay Gahn tribe wins immunity, so the Sook Jai tribe opts to send home Stephanie Dill.
Robb lashes out at his tribemates after his friend Stephanie is eliminated, but he soon apologizes after his team wins the reward of a feast. But when the Sook Jai tribe loses immunity, Robb Zbacnik finds his ranting has cost him a further chance in the game.
The scheming at the Sook Jai tribe continues with Shii Ann and Ken suspecting Penny of silently plotting her way to victory. The rewards challenge pairs up contestants from opposing tribes, during which time Shii Ann admits to Clay the problems in her tribe.
The tribes are surprised there will be no reward challenge, but then pleased when they are all given fins and a snorkel. During the immunity challenge, the Chuay Gahn tribe wins again. Running out of members, the Sook Jai tribe votes out Erin Collins.
The two tribes are finally merged 25 days into the game. With individual immunities now allowed, Clay beats out his tribemates to stay longer. At the tribal council, Ken Stafford finds himself being sent home.
Helen wins the individual immunity. There is no loyalty among the last two Sook Jai tribe members when one helps the opposing tribe members to send Penny Ramsey home.
A highlight of the season with previously unseen footage.
The contestants get help from family members during the rewards challenge involving bug eating and during the immunity challenge. Ted manages to win immunity. During the tribal council, Jake Billingsley is eliminated from the competition.
The battle for the title of "Survivor" intensifies among the final five contestants. Brian manages to win the immunity challenge and a place in the final four. During tribal council, Ted Rogers Jr. finds himself sent home.
With their chances on the line, the final four contestants, Jan, Brian, Clay, and Helen, face their second to last tribal council. Brian wins the immunity challenge, so the tribe votes Helen Glover out. Then, during the last immunity challenge, Brian once again wins. Jan Gentry is eliminated. Finally, Brian Heidik beats out Clay Jordan for the title of "Survivor."