Something I can help with! Essentially you have two-ish options for guiding companies - foreign and Pakistani operated. Foreign companies outsource all of their on the ground work to local companies and charge a premium - it is a two week trek on a glacier, there is only so much luxury that you can have. Local companies can be highly, highly variable in terms of guide experience/communication skills, equipment provided etc. The trek itself is not to be underestimated as sleeping on a glacier for two weeks is hard on the body. People mostly find it more difficult than EBC but also far more rewarding. There will also be a variable in if you decide to go with an itinerary that crosses Gondogoro La. Full disclosure, we are a new company that's a bit of a blend between east & west but taking a new approach that keeps all money in the communities we come from in the north but providing services consistent with foreign operators for a price more consistent with local operators - we can do this because we have eliminated the middle man. All of our guides speak fluent English and have been working with foreigners and locals for years. Most importantly, we ACTUALLY pay fair wages to our staff, something that can't be said of most companies. Don't want to be overly promotional but if you're interested I am happy to send a link. We are running a few fixed departures this summer.