Hi Adam

Welcome. You have certainly come to the right place for advice. Hope you don't mind me asking, why are you going with a commercial company to Kathmandu? I dont mean to infer anything negative towards Kudo, if I was to pick a company, it would be them. I just think that maybe you will regret having done that in the long run, especially as you are to travel solo from Nepal onwards.

My advice, organise it yourself. If you go with Kudo, then you're merely going on an extended package holiday, where everything is arranged and done for you. Do it yourself, and you are on an expedition/adventure. Again, don't want to come across as a travel snob, if that doesn't bother you, then fine. I'm a veteran of numerous overlanding expeditions, my first being England to India in 24 days back in 1995, and the greatest satisfaction I get, is thinking of the challenges encountered on the way and how I faced them. If you are worried about doing it solo, don't be. As many people on here will tell you, you will always meet people en-routew usually at borders etc. If you are worried about breaking down in the middle of knowhere, don't be. You will be amazed how some one always turns up to help you.

You can't go wrong with a site like this, there are many people on here far more experienced than me, that can offer you all the advice you want. In years to come, I feel you might regret having had your hand held to kathmandu. Might be talking crap (I mostly do) but you are embarking on an amazing adventure, wouldn't want you to have any regrets at all.