| Episode Title | Description | Who was voted off (highlight to see)
| Survivor: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly (30 min special from MTV) | A look back at the reality show's first four seasons, spotlighting the best fights, grossest food, hottest bodies, campfire couplings and the most despised cast members. Ethan Zohn ("Survivor: Africa") and Elisabeth Filarski ("Survivor: The Australian Outback") host.
| The Importance of Being E...est (Season premiere) | The reality series shakes things up as it launches this fifth edition. The 16 latest castaways are marooned on Koh Tarutao, an island off the coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. "It's a foreboding environment," says executive producer Mark Burnett of the site, which is teeming with pythons and king cobras in its dense jungle. The former penal colony is also known for its steep limestone cliffs. As for changes, Burnett promises that all of the challenges are entirely new. He also says that "the game starts off in a whole new way." While he declines to elaborate, it looks like this version initially begins with all-male and all-female tribes. | John from Chuay Gahn
| The Great Divide | Helen and Jan get lost and are missing for hours as they try to find their water source. Also, tensions run high among members of the Sook Jai tribe as they build a shelter. A second contestant is voted off the island. | Tanya from Chuay Gahn
| Family Values | The tribes compete in a reward challenge to gain the help of two soldiers who will assist them in making the most of their resources at camp. A third contestant is voted off the island. | Jed from Sook Jai
| Gender Bender | One tribe begins to divide itself along gender lines and a fourth contestant is voted off the island. | Ghandia from Chuay Gahn
| The Ocean's Surprise | One castaway is injured by a stingray during a group swim and one tribe loses an item of great value. A fifth contestant is voted off the island. | Stephanie from Sook Jai
| The Power of One | Tempers flare during a reward challenge in which the prize is a Thai feast. Also, one tribe becomes concerned about a teammate after the person exhibits bizarre behavior, and a sixth contestant is voted off the island. | Robb from Sook Jai
| Assumptions | The castaways anticipate a merge of the two tribes and new relationships are formed. A seventh contestant is voted off the island. | Shii Ann from Sook Jai
| Sleeping with the Enemy | Members of the two original tribes consider forming alliances with some of their new mates. Also, one castaway gets disgusted by the hygiene habits of others; and an eighth person is voted off the island; the first member of the jury is born. | Erin from Sook Jai
| Desperate Measures | News from home draws sharp responses from the castaways that could impact one contestant's future in the game. Also, one alliance tries to infiltrate a rival group; and a ninth contestant is voted off the island; the second member of the jury is born. | Ken from Chuay Jai
| While the Cats Are Away | One contestant wins a trip to the mainland and offends a friend by choosing someone else as a traveling companion; a 10th person is voted off the island; the third member of the jury is born. | Penny from Chuay Jai
| A Closer Look | A look at highlights of some of the most unforgettable moments from the first 10 episodes of the series, including Ted pretending to take pictures of Ghandia; and Clay expressing his admiration of Erin's physique. | no one (the first 10 outcasts)
| A Big Surprise...and Another | The 11th castaway is voted off the island; the fourth member of the jury is born. | Jake from Chuay Jai
| The Tides Are Turning | A 12th castaway is voted off the island; the fifth member of the jury is born. | Ted from Chuay Jai
| Slip Through Your Fingers (season finale) (2 hours) | After 39 days on Koh Tarutao, the ultimate survivor is crowned as the reality series wraps up its fifth edition. During the two-hour finale, a pair of contests whittles the final four players down to two and the jury votes for the winner. According to executive producer Mark Burnett: "Think 'Indiana Jones' in terms of how [the final immunity challenge] is presented. The feel of the whole thing is definitely 'Indiana Jones,' that's what we were trying to create." The finale is followed by a reunion of all 16 castaways at CBS's Television City in Los Angeles. Jeff Probst hosts the event and provides details about the show's next installment, Survivor: The Amazon.
| 4th place: Helen from Chuay Jai | 3rd place: Jan from Chuay Jai Thailand Reunion | The 16 castaways are reunited to discuss their experiences in Thailand.
| 2nd place: Clay from Chuay Jai | The Ultimate Survivor: Brian from Chuay Jai |
