A guide is a person who leads people through unknown or unmapped country, or conducts travellers and tourists through a place of interest.

Etymology

The word "guide" was incorporated into (Middle) English via Old French "guider" which meant "to guide, lead, conduct" it was originally taken by Old French from Frankish "*witan" meaning "show the way" (compare modern Dutch "weten") from Proto-Germanic "*wit-" meaning "to know" (compare Old English "witan" meaning "to see"). The French word influenced by Old Provencal "guidar" meaning "guide or leader" is from the same source.

Tourist guide

Main: Tour guide A person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area. The guide will normally possess an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognised by the appropriate authority. Tourist Guides are representatives of the cities, regions and countries for which they are qualified. It depends largely on them if visitors feel welcome, want to stay longer or decide to come back. They therefore contribute considerably to the perception of the destination. Tourist Guides are able to help travellers understand the culture of the region visited and the way of life of its inhabitants. They have a particular role on the one hand to promote the cultural and natural heritage whilst on the other hand to help ensure its sustainability by making visitors aware of its importance and vulnerability. 13809:2003

Mountain guide

Main: Mountain guide

Mountain guides are those employed in mountaineering; these are not merely to show the way but stand in the position of professional climbers with an expert knowledge of rock and snowcraft, which they impart to the amateur, at the same time assuring the safety of the climbing party. This professional class of guides arose in the middle of the 19th century when Alpine climbing became recognized as a sport.

In Switzerland, the central committee of the Swiss Alpine Club issues a guides' tariff which fixes the charges for guides and porters; there are three sections, for the Valais and Vaudois Alps, for the Bernese Oberland, and for central and eastern Switzerland.

In Chamonix (France)a statue has been raised to Jacques Balmat, who was the first to climb Mont Blanc in 1786. Other notable European guides are Auguste Balmat, Michel Cros, Maquignay, J. A. Carrel, who accompanied Edward Whymper to the Andes, the brothers Lauener, Christian Almer and Jakob and Melchior Anderegg.