The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SHERPAS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
H
E
R
P
A
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "guides" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case guides = sherpas.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SHERPAS mean?
SHERPAS noun- A mountain guide or porter, particularly a male of the Sherpa people so employed.
- An expert sent by a country’s leader to a summit meeting.
- A synthetic fabric with a long, thick pile, similar to faux fur, imitation lamb wool or fleece.
- To serve as a guide or porter for another.