Temple Transfer (also known as Sea Towers, Thrilogy, and Towers of Hanoi) is a recurring mental challenge that originated in Survivor: Thailand and was later used in South Pacific. Its design is based on the popular mathematical puzzle, Tower of Hanoi.
Each tribe must race to transfer levels of a temple from one of three stations to another. They must move the levels one at a time, with the added stipulation that larger levels cannot be placed on top of smaller levels. The first tribe to completely move the structure over to the final station in the correct order would win the challenge.
The challenge was modified for re-use in Survivor: South Pacific as a tribal challenge in a similar vein to Hero Duels, including a brief obstacle course section before the puzzle, and the puzzle itself being downsized to fit on tables.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge first appeared in Thailand as an Immunity Challenge, in which the two tribes had to transfer large pieces one at a time between three platforms in order to build a Thai temple on the final platform. Chuay Gahn would easily win their first Immunity Challenge after Sook Jai decided to throw the challenge.
The challenge reappeared eighteen seasons later as the opening challenge in South Pacific, where Savaii's Ozzy Lusth competed against Upolu's Coach Wade for reward. First, the two returnees would have to climb a twelve foot pole to retrieve a wooden sea turtle that sat on top, and then dig themselves under a log before moving on to their puzzle, which they must complete by placing the turtle on top. While Ozzy managed to pull ahead of Coach through the course, the lead quickly evaporated once the former got hung up on his puzzle. After requesting help from his tribe, however, Ozzy would once again overtake Coach with Savaii's guidance, even taking advantage of Coach's mistake of placing one of the big pieces on top of one of the smaller pieces, allowing him to solve the puzzle and win reward for his tribe.
Australia[]
South Africa[]
In Champions, the challenge was used as a Captains' Duel between Corné Krige and Mark Fish. Stephen Walker's familiarity with the puzzle from his childhood allowed him to guide Mark in the right direction and help Utara to win reward.
