Development and filming

The Starting Line was at Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The fourth season of The Amazing Race Asia was the first Amazing Race season to be broadcast in high-definition. Besides the switch to high-definition, updated on-screen graphics (similar in appearance to those introduced in season 14 of the American version) and music, were introduced. The opening intro was also updated with a new title card and tuneup in the music. Of note is the addition of the use of split-screens.

Filming took place in June 2010,^[2] with teams spotted at Invercargill Airport on 20 June 2010.^[3]

According to AXN, this season was dubbed as "Ride of a Lifetime".^[4] Allan noted that this season will travel to exotic locations and feature new challenges. This season features a first-time visit to Sri Lanka, as well as visits to far-flung areas including Invercargill, New Zealand and Legazpi, Albay, Philippines. Indonesia, a previously visited country that had not been visited by original American edition at the time until the nineteenth season one year later,^[5] was also visited this season.

Leg 5 was said to be the most expensive production to date.^[6] It featured teams riding numerous forms of transportation: airplanes, bus, passenger jeepney, carrier jeep, jet ski, and an all-terrain vehicle.

Leg 7 once again featured a double-length leg after not featuring one from the previous season. It featured two Detours and Roadblocks each, and a Virtual Pit Stop where teams were informed on their placements and that the leg was still ongoing before handing over their next clue. As such for superlegs in the previous installments, teams are not awarded a prize for coming first at the Virtual Pit Stop.

This is the first season in the Asian franchise to start and end in two different countries, starting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and ending in Singapore, albeit having close proximity of the two locations. In some foreign editions, starting and ending locations are in different countries (such as Brazil, Israel, and Latin America), but not in the original American edition, which starts and ends in the same country until Season 34.

Lani Pillinger was absent in the Finish Line due to a broken collar bone.^[7]

Casting

Applications ended 31 March 2010, after a short extension due to popular demand. Semi-finalist and finalist interviews were held between March and April.^[2]

Marketing

The fourth season of The Amazing Race Asia had three official sponsors: Axiata, Caltex, and Sony. The official hotel partner was Hilton, and the series was supported by Tourism Malaysia and Mix FM.^[8][9]

Broadcasting

The identities of the contestants were revealed on 2 September 2010.^[10] A week before the premiere of "Racers Revealed", the episode was released on the show's official website. The first episode also premiered on the show's official website on 16 September 2010, one week before the season debut. A special recap episode was aired on 2 December 2010, a week before the season finale.

Leg 1 (Malaysia)

The first Roadblock of the 4th season of The Amazing Race Asia took place at Batu Caves.

Airdate: 23 September 2010

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Thean Hou Temple) (Starting Line)
• Gombak (Batu Caves)
• George Town, Penang (Pinang Peranakan Mansion)
• George Town (Gelugor – Futsal Court)
• George Town (Swettenham Pier)
• George Town (MS Star Pisces)

In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to ascend the stairs at the Batu Caves complex inhabited by monkeys while carrying an offering of fruit and counting the number of steps. Once at the top, they had to give their offering to a Hindu priest and provide the correct number of steps (272) to receive their next clue.

This season's first Detour was a choice between Flags or Rags. In Flags, teams had to find five flags hidden around the ship using ship lingo to receive their next clue. In Rags, one team member had to lower themselves down to clean a window on the ship, while the other had to search for and take a photo of their partner to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• After finishing the Roadblock, teams were instructed to drive to "the Pit Stop from Episode 8 of The Amazing Race Season 16 USA version" sending them to Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Once there, they had to find "Baldwin", a piano, where their next clue was in the form of piano sheet music of the song "Amazing Grace".
• At the futsal court, each team member had to take a specific number of turns defending the goal against young futsal players to receive their next clue. Teams would receive a 2-minute time penalty for each goal scored against them.
• After finishing the Detour, teams were instructed to go to the 12th deck of the cruise ship to find the Pit Stop.

Leg 2 (Malaysia)

Teams ended this Sabah leg at the floating village of Tanjung Aru.

Airdate: 30 September 2010

• George Town (Batu Ferringhi Beach)
• George Town (Penang International Airport) to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Kota Kinabalu International Airport)
• Tuaran (Murut Warrior's Village)
• Kota Kinabalu (Filipino Night Market)
• Kota Kinabalu (Sutera Harbour Marina)
• Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (Sapi Island)
• Tamparuli (Kiulu River White Water Rafting)
• Kota Kinabalu (Kampung Tanjung Aru)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to guide a ring through an underwater rope maze whilst using diving equipment to receive their next clue. There was a time limit to complete the task, and if racers were unable to complete within the time limit, they would incur a four-hour penalty.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Rapid Water or Rapid Fire. In Rapid Water, teams had to sail a bamboo raft down river rapids and across the river to retrieve their next clue. In Rapid Fire, both teammates had to shoot Malaysian slingshots at two targets to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Murut Warrior's Village, teams took part in a ceremony in the village which involved tribal dancing and touching a snake before receiving their next clue.
• At the Filipino Night Market, teams had to eat at least a hundred chicken balls to receive their next clue. The team that ate the most number of chicken balls would have a 20-minute advantage in the next task, the Roadblock.

Leg 3 (Malaysia → Sri Lanka)

Teams finished the leg at Independence Square in Colombo.

Airdate: 7 October 2010

• Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu International Airport) to Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport)
• Kuala Lumpur (Axiata Telecoms Controls Centre)
• Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Colombo, Sri Lanka (Bandaranaike International Airport)
• Colombo (Gangaramaya Temple)
• Colombo (Pettah – St. John's Fish Market)
• Nugegoda (Nugegoda Station Road – Peanut Vendor)
• Nugegoda (Trendy Connections Garment Factory)
• Colombo (Independence Square)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Count or Carry. In Count, teams had to count fish and give the correct amount of 1,100 fish to receive their next clue. In Carry, teams had to carry 12 blocks of ice to a market vendor across the fish market to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a professional sewing machine to properly sew fabric cuttings into a shirt to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Kuala Lumpur's Axiata Telecoms Controls Centre, teams had to look at the television screen until they found a picture of a golden Buddha and then press the company name of a telecommunications company, Dialog Telekom, located in the same country as the statue on a touchscreen computer to receive their next clue. If a wrong answer was given, teams had to wait for two minutes before they could try again.
• At Gangaramaya Temple, teams had to receive a blessing from the Buddhist monk to receive their next clue.
• At Nugegoda Station Road, each team member had to sell 20 bags of peanuts for Rs.15 a piece and exchange their earnings for their next clue from the vendor.

Leg 4 (Sri Lanka)

In the coastal town of Ambalangoda, teams had to get a photo of mask and match it to a person wearing the same mask in order to get their next clue.

Airdate: 14 October 2010

• Colombo (Fort Railway Station) to Galle (Galle Railway Station)
• Galle (Galle Fort)
  • Galle (Galle Bus Station)
• Galle (Galle Lighthouse)
• Galle (Dialog Service Centre)
• Galle (Galle Bus Station) to Ambalangoda (Ambalangoda Train Station – Mask Stall Vendor)
• Kalutara (Coconut Plantation or Holy Cross College)
• Kalutara (Kalutara Kalido Beach)

In this season's only Fast Forward, one team had to proceed to the Galle Bus Station, where they would discover they had to have their heads shaved at a nearby street barber. Once completed, the team would receive the Fast Forward award and a Hilton Duck, which they had to bring to the Pit Stop, and would be taken in a marked taxi to the Pit Stop.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to find out the year when Sri Lanka became a sovereign state and changed its name from Ceylon to its present name (1972). The team member had to use this year as a combination (1972 → 1-9-7-2) to unlock a treasure chest, containing their next clue, located along a beach outside the Galle Lighthouse.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Coconut Course or Language Course. In Coconut Course, both team members had climb up a laddered coconut tree and traverse on a hanging rope between two coconut trees to retrieve a coconut, which they had to give to the chieftain to get their next clue. In Language Course, teams had to go to a school to learn ten Sinhalese words from a student and then correctly recite them to a teacher to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Dialog Service Centre, teams had to find a cellular phone with a message "Congratulations. Correct." from a pile of hundreds of cellular phones that displayed the message "Sorry, Try Again" to get their next clue.
• At the Ambalangoda Train Station, teams had to search for a mask stall vendor, get a photo of a mask, and match it with the person wearing the same mask amidst the crowd of dancing people. Once teams found the correct person, they would receive a Hilton duck, which they had to bring to the Pit Stop, and their next clue.

Leg 5 (Sri Lanka → Philippines)

While in the Philippines, teams visited the famous Cagsawa Ruins at Legazpi.

Airdate: 21 October 2010

• Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport) to Manila, Philippines (Ninoy Aquino International Airport)
• Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) to Legazpi (Legazpi Airport) or Pasay (Philtranco Pasay Terminal) to Legazpi (Legazpi Grand Central Terminal)
• Legazpi (Ligñon Hill)
• Daraga (Barangay Budiao)
• Daraga (Cagsawa Ruins)
• Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Misibis Bay Eco Park)
• Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Bahi Beach)
• Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Amphitheater)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Jig or Pig. In Jig, teams had to don costumes and perform a traditional Ibalong dance to the satisfaction of a panel of two judges to receive their next clue. In Pig, teams would compete in a game of catch the oily pig with each team member having to catch two pigs to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to kayak along a flagged fish farm and search among hundreds of Amazing Race envelopes one of ten envelopes marked "Correct!", which contained their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival in Legazpi, teams had to travel by jeepney to Ligñon Hill to find their next clue.
• At Barangay Budiao, teams had to ride an ATV along a marked course to the Cagsawa Ruins to find their next clue.
• At the Cagsawa Ruins, teams had to participate in a traditional pukpok palayok game. One team member would be blindfolded and had to smash a clay pot containing their next clue. The other member would use a tambourine to help guide their blindfolded partner to the pot.
• At the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino Eco Park, the Intersected teams had to clear up all the trash in the selected areas using the trash bag provided by Caltex to receive the next clue. After finishing the task, they were no longer Intersected.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by jet ski to Bahi Beach, where a jeep would take them to their next Pit Stop.

Additional note

• Six teams took a bus from Manila to Legazpi, while the other two teams (Natasha & Hussein and Manas & Sahil) took a flight from Manila to Legazpi instead.

Leg 6 (Philippines → New Zealand)

Teams ended this leg on snowy Coronet Peak, New Zealand's first commercial skifield, near Queenstown.

Airdate: 28 October 2010

• Cagraray (Helipad) to Legazpi (Legazpi Airport)

• Legazpi (Legazpi Airport) to Invercargill, New Zealand (Invercargill Airport)
• Te Anau (Lake Te Anau)
• Kingston (Pillan's Paddock) (Overnight Rest)
• Nevis River (Nevis Highwire Platform)
• Queenstown (Queenstown Events Centre)
• Queenstown (Coronet Peak)

This leg's Detour at Nevis Highwire Platform was a choice between Plunge or Swing. Plunge was a Switchback of a Roadblock in Season 1. In Plunge, each team member had to bungee jump from a height of 134 metres (440 ft) above the Nevis River to receive their next clue. In Swing, both team members would be seated side by side and swing from a platform 300 metres (980 ft) above the Nevis Canyon to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, teams traveled to Coronet Peak, where one team member had to search for their next clue buried in the snow hill using an avalanche rescue transceiver.

Additional tasks

• After arriving in Invercargill, teams had to find a camper in the parking lot with a clue instructing them to find a fisherman near Lake Te Anau with their next clue.
• At Pillan's Paddock, teams had to saw five slabs from a log together and one slab each individually to receive their next clue.
• At Queenstown Events Centre, teams had to score a try then kick a conversion against a team of three rugby players, some of whom were former national team players, to receive their next clue. Teams had to score in 10 attempts or serve a 10-minute penalty.
• After team members finished their Roadblock, they had to ride a 4x4 truck to the top of Coronet Peak and race on foot to the Pit Stop.

Additional note

• For winning the previous leg, Ethan & Khairie also won a helicopter ride to Legazpi Airport.

Leg 7 (New Zealand → Australia)

The double-length leg in Australia where teams visited the Archibald Fountain in Sydney's Hyde Park in the first half, and ended at Kangaroo Point Park, overlooking the skyline of Downtown Brisbane.

Airdates: 4 and 11 November 2010

• Queenstown (Coronet Peak)
• Central Otago (Central Otago Wine Region)
• Arrowtown (Arrowtown Post Office)
• Queenstown (Queenstown Airport) to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Sydney Airport)^{[lower-alpha 1]}
• Sydney (City Centre – Circular Quay)
• Sydney (City Centre – Hilton Hotel)
• Sydney (Sydney Olympic Park – Sydney Circus Art School)
• Sydney (City Centre – Hyde Park (Archibald Fountain))
• Sydney (Sydney Airport) to Brisbane, Queensland (Brisbane Airport)
• Gold Coast (Southport – Southport Indoor Pistol Club)
• Gold Coast (Coomera – Dreamworld)
• Gold Coast (Pimpama – WRX Experience Rally Circuit)
• Gold Coast (Broadbeach – Kurrawa Beach)
• Gold Coast (Coombabah – Farm)
• Brisbane (Kangaroo Point – Kangaroo Point Park)

This leg's first Detour was a choice between Pen or Pinot. In Pen, teams had to separate three marked sheep from a flock to another pen to receive their next clue. In Pinot, teams had to carry and fill a wine barrel with wine to receive their next clue.

In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to perform a flying trapeze maneuver known as a "catch" at Circus Art School to receive their next clue.

In this leg's second Roadblock, one team member, regardless of who performed the first Roadblock, had to drive a Subaru Impreza WRX one lap around a rally circuit within 102 seconds to receive their next clue.

This leg's second Detour was a choice between Bush Chucker or Bush Hunter. Before performing either Detour option, team members had to paint each other's faces much like Aboriginal Australians. In Bush Chucker, teams had to throw a boomerang and have it land within a marked circular area. In Bush Hunter, teams had to throw a hunting spear into a hay bale. After completing either Detour, one team member had to eat a live witchetty grub, an Aboriginal delicacy, before receiving their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At departure, teams had to travel on foot up Coronet Peak and complete a slalom skiing course to receive their next clue.
• At Arrowtown Post Office, they had to mail the videos they made during the Pit Stop to receive their next clue.
• At Circular Quay, teams had to look for a man with an umbrella on his right hand and ask him "Got a clue about the weather, mate?" to receive their next clue.
• At the Hilton Hotel, teams had to make a bed to Hilton's high standard within 3 minutes to receive their next clue. After four failed attempts, teams had to serve a 10-minute penalty. The quickest team would win a special prize at the Pit Stop.
• At Brisbane Airport, teams had to find a Wicked camper van, a van painted with Aboriginal art, with their next clue.
• At the Southport Indoor Pistol Club, each team member had to shoot a target using a .44 Magnum pistol to receive their next clue.
• At Dreamworld, teams had to ride The Giant Drop, the highest drop tower ride in the world (at the time) at 120 metres (390 ft), until they were able to photograph a koala mascot waving an Amazing Race flag using a Sony Cyber-shot digital camera to receive their next clue.
• At Kurrawa Beach, teams had to search for a clue buried in a marked area along the beach.

Leg 8 (Australia → Indonesia)

Half of this leg focused on the Indonesian island of Gili Trawangan in the Gili Islands.

Airdate: 18 November 2010

• Brisbane (Brisbane Airport) to Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (Ngurah Rai International Airport)
• Denpasar (Ocean Star Boat Express) to Mataram, Lombok (Tandjoengkarang Fishing Village)
• Mataram (Pura Meru (in Dutch))
• Lingsar (Pura Lingsar)
• Mataram (Mandalika Market or Kuburan Cina)
• Malaka (Malimbu Beach)
• Gili Trawangan (Blue Marlin Dive, Halik Reef, and Coral Beach)
• Gili Trawangan (Sunset Point)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Above or Beyond. In Above, teams travelled to Mandalika Market and had to carry a basket of vegetables above their heads, without their hands touching the basket, a distance of 50 metres (160 ft) to receive their next clue. In Beyond, teams had to search Kuburan Cina to locate the grave of Fam Sam Moy to find their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to travel by outrigger boat to Blue Marlin Dive on Gili Trawangan, where one team member had to learn to scuba dive before diving into Halik Reef to retrieve a briefcase. Then, both team members had to return to Gili Trawangan, ride a local horse carriage called a cidomo to Coral Beach, count the money in the briefcase (Rp 3,804,000), and use this number as the combination to retrieve the next clue from their Sony VAIO laptop. If teams did not enter the correct combination within three attempts, they had to wait for 10 minutes before they could enter another combination.

Additional tasks

• At the Ocean Star Boat Express, teams had to sign up for a departure time for one of two boats to Lombok, with the first boat leaving at 7:00 a.m. containing two teams, and the second boat leaving at 7:30 a.m. containing three teams.
• At Tandjoengkarang Fishing Village, teams had to search for their next clue, which was hidden in a boat moored along the beach.
• At Pura Lingsar, teams participated in perang topat, a rice war ritual where teams were showered with rice powder by locals, before receiving their clue.

Leg 9 (Indonesia → South Korea)

Teams visited the Seokguram Grotto (left), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of South Korea's "National Treasures", to ring the temple's Reunification bell. (right)

Airdate: 25 November 2010

• Mataram (Selaparang Airport) to Pohang, South Korea (Pohang Airport)
• Pohang (Homigot Sunrise Plaza – Hands of Harmony)
• Gyeongju (Girimsa Temple)
• Gyeongju (Seokguram Grotto)
• Gyeongju (Hwarang Educational Institute)
• Gyeongju (Daereungwon Tomb Complex (in Korean))
• Gyeongju (Gyeongju National Park – Anapji Pond)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Bow N' Arrow or Rock N' Roll. In Bow N' Arrow, they had to choose another team's photograph as target and hit the target three times with a traditional arrow to receive their next clue. In Rock N' Roll, teams had to build a ceremonial pagoda to a certain height using rocks to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to drive to Daereungwon Tomb Complex, where one team member had to walk through three rows of gates, only one of which in each row was correct, to receive their next clue. If the team member chose an incorrect gate, the team member would be blocked by warriors. Each team member would be given three attempts to correctly decode the warrior's code or else they had to go back to the starting point and start again.

Additional tasks

• Once in Pohang, teams had to figure out that they had to go to the Hands of Harmony to find their next clue.
• At Girimsa Temple, one team member had to answer five questions, and their partner had to match the answers to receive their next clue.

Questions	Answers
	Claire & Michelle	Hussein & Natasha	Jess & Lani	Richard & Richard
Which team makes you envy their relationship?	Hussein & Natasha	Ivan & Hilda	Richard & Richard	Richard & Richard
Which team do you dislike the most?	Jess & Lani	Jess & Lani	Ethan & Khairie	Sahil & Manas
If the race was a foursome, which team would you pair up with?	Ethan & Khairie	Richard & Richard	Richard & Richard	Dimple & Sunaina
Which team would be the first to stab you in the back?	Jess & Lani	Claire & Michelle	Ethan & Khairie	Ethan & Khairie
Which team doesn’t deserve to be in the final?	Jess & Lani	Jess & Lani	Hussein & Natasha	Jess & Lani

• At Seokguram Grotto, teams had to ring the Reunification bell three times to receive their next clue.

Leg 10 (South Korea → Singapore)

Marina Bay Sands in Downtown Singapore was the site of the final Roadblock and Finish Line.

Airdate: 9 December 2010

• Pohang (Pohang Airport) to Singapore (Changi Airport)
• Singapore (Cavenagh Bridge)
• Singapore (East Coast Seafood Centre – Red House Seafood Restaurant)
• Singapore (Caltex Service Station)
• Singapore (Sentosa – Wave House or G-Max Reverse Bungy)
• Singapore (St James Power Station)
• Singapore (Marina Bay Sands – Tower 1 & 2)
• Singapore (Marina Bay Sands – Sky Park Swimming Pool)
• Singapore (Marina Bay Sands – Sky Park Observation Deck)

This season's final Detour was a choice between Stay Up or Add Up. In Stay Up, teams had to travel to Wave House and ride an artificially-generated wave for an accumulated time of two minutes to receive their next clue. In Add Up, teams had to travel to the G-Max Reverse Bungy, where they had to add up three numbers called out by the host and get the correct sum to receive their next clue.

In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to walk a tightrope from Tower 1 to Tower 2 of the Marina Bay Sands to retrieve their clue before walking back to Tower 1.

Additional tasks

• At Cavenagh Bridge, teams had to locate the lion dancers to receive their next clue.
• At Red House Seafood Restaurant, teams had to extract one kilogram (2.2 lb) of Singapore's most popular dish, chilli crab, to receive their next clue.
• Teams had to search one of four Caltex stations and find a vintage car to receive their next clue. If the vintage car was no longer in the Caltex Station, teams had to proceed to a different Caltex station.
• At St. James Power Station, teams had two minutes to perform an escape illusion where one team member had to unlock themselves from handcuffs to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to ride a marked elevator to the Sky Park Swimming Pool, where they would be tested on their memory of the season. Once teams answered seven multiple-choice questions correctly using coloured swim rings, they would receive their final clue.