Planning a Thailand sourcing trip — 7-day factory-visit itinerary, budget, must-do audit steps, and how to make one week produce three qualified suppliers.

Nothing replaces walking a Thai factory floor. This guide gives you a 7-day sourcing-trip itinerary designed to visit 5–8 factories, close 3 qualified suppliers, and cost under $3,500 all-in (excluding flights) for 2026.

Trip Budget (2026, per person)

Item	Cost
Hotel Bangkok (mid-range Sukhumvit)	$85–140/night
Local flight BKK ↔ Chiang Mai	$60–110 round-trip
Grab / taxi + driver day-hire	$70/day
Interpreter (English↔Thai)	20–180/day
Meals	$40/day
SIM card + hotspot	5
7-day total	~$2,400–3,500

7-Day Itinerary Template

Day 1 (Mon) — Arrive Bangkok, prep

Land BKK, hotel check-in
Meet interpreter + agent, review factory dossier
Confirm next-day appointments in writing

Day 2 (Tue) — Bangkok cluster #1 (Bang Na / Samut Prakan)

2 factory visits (morning + afternoon)
Full audit checklist (see below)
Debrief with agent at hotel

Day 3 (Wed) — Eastern Economic Corridor (Chonburi / Rayong)

1 factory visit (drive 2 hrs)
Lunch with factory owner (relationship-building)
Return BKK evening

Day 4 (Thu) — Fly to Chiang Mai (northern cluster)

Afternoon flight
1 factory visit if craft/food/cosmetics

Day 5 (Fri) — Chiang Mai / Lamphun

2 factory visits
Northern industrial estate tour
Fly back BKK evening

Day 6 (Sat) — Sample review + trade fair (if in season)

Consolidate physical samples in hotel
Visit trade fair (THAIFEX May, STYLE Bangkok Oct)

Day 7 (Sun) — Wrap-up + shortlist

Score each factory (rubric below)
Sign LOIs / NDAs with top 2–3
Depart

Factory Audit Checklist (Walk-Through)

Company registration (DBD Corporate No.) matches quote
Production line matches product category (no "borrowing" lines)
Workforce present, PPE worn, orderly floor
QC station with calibrated tools
Warehouse: raw materials + finished goods separated
Compliance certs on wall: ISO 9001, BSCI, Sedex, GMP as relevant
Fire safety, exits marked
Meet the actual QC manager + production planner
Ask to see 3 recent shipping documents (BL, invoice)

Scoring Rubric

Score each factory 1–5 on: Capability, Quality systems, Communication, Price, Cultural fit. Anyone scoring <3 on any dimension = disqualify.

Cultural Tips

Bring small gifts from your country (cookies, tea) for owner
Business cards — offer with both hands, take time to read theirs
Lunch is business — expect 1.5 hours, don't rush
Wear closed-toe shoes to factory (safety)
April = Songkran shutdown (avoid); January/February = ideal weather

FAQ

Q: Can TUSKO organize the whole trip? A: Yes — we handle factory shortlist, appointments, interpreter, driver, and lead the audits. Typical package

,800–2,800 for 5-day trip. Contact us.

Q: Do I need a visa for Thailand? A: US/UK/EU/AU passports get 60-day visa-exempt entry (2026). Bring hotel booking + return flight proof.

Q: What's the best time of year? A: November–February (cool dry season). Avoid April (Songkran shutdown 12–16) and September–October (peak monsoon).