The Bachelor — Season 16

Millions of viewers were shocked, along with Ben Flajnik (pronounced Flannick), 29, the handsome winemaker from Sonoma, when, after summoning the courage to get down on one knee and offer his heartfelt proposal to Bachelorette Ashley Hebert, she rejected him, sending him off heartbroken and angry. But Ben isn't giving up. He is back as the Bachelor and ready to risk it all again for another chance at love. He begins the search for his soul mate, choosing from among 25 beautiful bachelorettes.

The 18 remaining bachelorettes travel to the lush vineyards of Ben's hometown of Sonoma, California. Two lucky women - Kacie B. and Courtney --will get romantic one-on-one dates, but will it further their chances of being Ben's dream woman, or will they be sent home? The group date will give 12 bachelorettes an unusual opportunity to show Ben another side of their personalities as they audition and perform roles for a community theater production - written entirely by children. However, it doesn't take long for the women to get under each other's skin and ramp up the drama, ending in uncontrollable tears for some of the bachelorettes.

Ben and ladies are off to San Francisco. They're not the only ones. A mystery visitor is coming to town that will leave everyone in a state of shock.

Ben explores his romantic connections to his 13 remaining potential soul mates against the backdrop of the majestic mountains of Park City, Utah. There are intimate one-on-dates with Rachel and Jennifer, and a spectacular group date horseback riding across some of Utah's most beautiful terrain. But Ben has a surprise for one of the bachelorettes at the after party that shocks all the women. Jealousy rears its ugly head when Emily decides it is time to warn Ben about one of the women who may not be as sweet as she seems. But will her plan backfire? The tension is unbearable as women who haven't had any time with Ben during the week fight for his attention.

Traveling outside the U.S. for the first time this season, Ben whisks the 11 remaining bachelorettes to the Caribbean paradise of Puerto Rico. Nicki is the lucky recipient of the first individual date card, and she can't wait. Their romantic tryst is amplified by an unexpected thunderstorm and a local wedding. A trip to the legendary Roberto Clemente Baseball Stadium proves the mettle of nine of the women, as they challenge their physical limits to compete for extra time with Ben. Elyse captures the other one-on-one date as she and Ben take an intimate ocean tour aboard a luxury yacht, but it's not all smooth sailing when Elyse decides to let her walls down. However, Courtney makes a provocative suggestion to Ben about a sizzling rendezvous. But will he take her up on her secret proposition to skinny dip together, and will the other women find out?.

Nine excited bachelorettes travel to the exotic tropical country of Panama, but two nervous women - Blakeley and Rachel - face the dramatic two-on-one date where one of them will be sent home immediately. How will the Bachelor handle his heartbreaking decision at the end of the night? Ben soars in a helicopter with Kacie B. over Panama City and the Caribbean, landing on a deserted island where they spend the day, but she makes a stunning disclosure which demonstrates her ability to really open up to Ben. The six women on the group date trek with the Bachelor through the Panamanian jungle and end up at a small village, communicating with their inhabitants, the Emberas. But this week's drama is ratcheted up when Chris faces off with Casey S. about a bombshell disclosure she has failed to reveal to anyone.

The pressure mounts as the crucial hometown dates loom, but first Ben and the remaining six bachelorettes continue their exciting trip around the world to the beautiful country of Belize. Only one rose will be available and that will be on the group date. However, that woman will be guaranteed a hometown visit. Lindzi and Ben hover over one of the world's most impressive sink holes -- the famed Great Blue Hole - as she tries to overcome her fear of heights. Emily is treated to an outing to the majestic limestone coral island of Caye Caulker, where, after a few rocky weeks, she hopes to get her relationship with Ben back on track. And Courtney, who is desperate for another individual date, gets her wish, but Ben begins to have second thoughts about this frontrunner after she reveals her attitude about taking him home. And the three women on the group date dive with sharks and must conquer their fears if they are to have a chance at a rose. Ben has a real surprise for the women, too, when he cancels the cocktail party.

The stakes are high as Ben crisscrosses the country on an exciting, emotionally charged trip to visit the final four women's hometowns. Will Lindzi conquer her fear of being vulnerable and share her true feelings with Ben? Will Kacie B.'s cautious, skeptical parents be the downfall of her relationship with the Bachelor? Will Nicki's parents, who are still heartbroken over her divorce, welcome thoughts of a potential future for their daughter with Ben? And finally, will Ben be able to win over Courtney's protective mother? Afterwards, everyone meets in Los Angeles, and Ben must make a gut-wrenching decision to narrow the field to three women - one of whom he believes will be his wife .

Romantic adventures await Ben and the final three women - Courtney, Lindzi and Nicki - as they travel to spectacular Switzerland. From an exhilarating helicopter ride over the Swiss landscape to a heart-stopping rappel down a 300-foot ravine to a scenic train ride to the enchanting town of Wengen, the dates are filled with passion and excitement, as Ben continues to explore what his future would be like with each of these potential mates. At the end of each evening, Ben will present the bachelorette with an invitation to spend an intimate night together in a "fantasy suite," with the hope that she will accept. But will she? The week finishes with a stunning surprise when one of the devastated bachelorettes returns to look for answers from Ben about why he let her go. It's a wild, romantic ride with each of the women - until this emotional reunion makes Ben's mind and heart go into overdrive and he makes his most painful decision yet.

Ben and Chris Harrison discuss memorable moments; Emily talks about how her chance with Ben was ruined by her hatred for Courtney; the women discuss the impact of Courtney's behavior; Ben faces those he rejected; a sneak peek at the final two women.

In the controversial Season Finale, Ben prepares to make one of the most difficult choices of this life. His search for love is now narrowed down to two very different women - Courtney and Lindzi -- and he is falling in love with both of them. After being rejected by Ashley on last season's "The Bachelorette," will he now find the love he had hoped to find with her? After having his family meet both women in spectacular Zermatt, Switzerland, and under immense pressure, he must make one final heart-wrenching decision that could change his life forever. Whom does a confused Ben, after much soul-searching, see as his future wife? To whom will he give his final rose? And will he leave single or with the love on his life?

Ben looks back at the dramatic ending to his journey to find love. Ashley and J.P. return to share their future wedding plans.