Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Hike

1. If, as you say you intend to buy a round trip ticket to the Jungfraujoch from Wengen, then to the top and then return to Wengen, you have now used up your round trip ticket. You'll have to pay for the Maennlichen lift (11.50 CHF with a Swiss Pass) then the ride down from Kleine Scheidegg on the Wengneralpbahn to Wengen (12 CHF with a Swiss Pass).

2. That would be the long way around. You'll see everything on the hike from the Maennlichen top to Kleine Scheidegg. Plus it will cost you more. Your Swiss Pass covers you as far as Wengen, then 25% reduction from there. From Grindelwald, you have to pay with the 25% reduction all the way.

3. Never hiked there, only skied. See here. https://www.maennlichen.ch/en/hiking.html

Thank you, Sam. This was exactly my concern.

Should we do the reverse walk instead? From Kleine Scheidegg to Mannlichen. Then take the cable car to Wengen and train to Lauterbrunnen. I heard the views are better if you walk towards KS hence was trying to fit in that.

Also, will it make sense to buy roundtrip tickets if I am almost certain to do this walk? Should I buy one way till Jungfraujoch and return ticket only till KS? We will then walk till Mannlichen, pay for the cable car to Wengen from Mannlichen. Wengen to LB is free with STP.

Is that even possible?

I've done that hike 7 times. The most spectacular view, which you came all that way for, is only in the direction toward Kleine Scheidegg (although the whole area is beautiful).

I haven't gone from Kleine Scheidegg up to the Jungfraujoch, but you could buy your roundtrip ticket for only that part--to and from Kleine Scheidegg. For the rest of your trip, only buy tickets to where you plan to go.

If you have a reserved time on the Jungfrau train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch then you'll have to do that first so you can time your arrival, unless you allow loads and loads of extra time to hike first, so you can take your time enjoying the scenery, taking pictures, and stop for refreshments near Kleine Scheidegg. The tickets between Klein Scheidegg and Wengen aren't timed.

If your ticket to the Jungfraujoch isn't timed, then it would be more direct to do the Männlichen hike first to Kleine Scheidegg where you can catch the Jungfraujoch train.

So go from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen on your pass. At Wengen walk over to the cable car station where you'll need to get or present your discounted ticket to get up to Männlichen. Walk the easy 2 1/2 mile hike to Kleine Scheidegg with the snow-capped mountains in your view straight ahead of you, and the meadows below you on your left. I heartily concur with the recommendation from the Rick Steves guidebook for stopping at the Grindelwaldblick restaurant just before you get to Kleine Scheidegg for great local food and refreshments and the best view.

Buy a discounted train ticket from the Kleine Scheidegg station to get you as far as Wengen. Then use only your pass to return from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen.

I think the views on the train route from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen are far more dramatic and impressive than the view from the train from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg, but that's my person preference.

LindaL has explained it. To summarize:

Use your Swiss Pass to travel up to Wengen; no ticket needed. Walk through town to the Männlichen cablecar base. Show your pass to get a discount on the one-way ride up to Männlichen. Walk from the top of the cablecar to Kleine Scheidegg. ( Stop at the restaurant on the left before getting the Kleine Scheidegg if you are ready for lunch).

At Kleine Scheidegg, buy a ticket from there up to Jungfraujoch and back down to Lauterbrunnen.. Show your pass to get a discount on the Jungfraujoch to Wengen portions. There will be no charge for Wengen to Lauterbrunnen because of your pass.

Thank you for the replies.

We have our parents with us. So, the plan is to do the Jungfraujoch excursion first thing in the morning (with parents). Make them return to Lauterbrunnen.

Me and my spouse are interested in the doing the hike. So, the only option left is to do it after the Jungfraujoch. Easiest is to go from KS to Mannlichen and then take the cable car to Wengen. I understand that the view are better if we go from Mannlichen to KS but will I get to see these views if I keep looking back? What am asking is - is the route the same from KS->Mannlichen and Mannlichen-KS?

Also, I see that KS to Mannlichen is a bit of an ascent. How difficult will that be?

In reference to your statement above about your parents that you'll "Make them return to Lauterbrunnen" after you take them up to the Jungfraujoch, while you and your spouse hike, I just want to point out that the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg "hike" in this gradual downhill direction is more of a stroll than a hike, and it's often referred to as the "Grandmother's Walk" because it's so easy. Loads of older people take that "hike." There are many benches all along the way. There's even a covered shelter with benches in it about 2/3 of the way there. The walk is only 2 1/2 miles long, and there are restrooms at each end of the walk. Hiking sticks make it even easier. People use two sticks (one in each hand) in Switzerland, not one, as in America.
The only view of snow-capped mountains on that hike is toward the Kleine Scheidegg direction, not the opposite way. It's worth it just to take the train back to Wengen (maybe buy them hiking sticks there) and take the cable car up from Wengen to Männlichen to walk in the most spectacular direction.

If your parents are too feeble to hike, reconsider your plan of letting them go up to the Jungfraujoch -- They could get chest pains from high altitude sickness. The Jungfraujoch train station is 11,332 feet above sea level.

Thank you LindaL for all your inputs.

We will take our parents along for the walk :) Looking at the current weather forecast, it seems unlikely that we will be able to go to the top, fingers crossed :(