Paths of the God's on Amalfi coast?

Old Jan 4th, 2014, 03:44 PM
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Paths of the God's on Amalfi coast?

We will be visiting the Amalfi coast in may, and I am trying to decide if we should hike the path of the God's? Is it worth the time? How long does it take, how many miles? We want to see the cities and go through a few of them, would we have to sacrifice seeing the cities if we did the hike instead? Any information would help a lot. Thanks!
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Old Jan 5th, 2014, 08:44 AM
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There isn't one path. It's a network of paths connecting villages and towns all over the Sorrentine Peninsula. Only you can decide what you'd rather do, hike v. see towns.

You can find a lot of information online (just google "hiking the Amalfi Coast"), but you might find this book helpful.

http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Amalfi...e+amalfi+coast
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Old Feb 1st, 2014, 11:39 PM
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Hi Allie, as Jean wrote there isn't one path, the main one start from Bomerano, Agerola, just above Amalfi and ends to Nocelle, Positano. You could probably found more info here:

http://www.pathofgods.com/into-the-p...h-of-the-gods/
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Old Feb 2nd, 2014, 02:58 AM
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We did the Path of the Gods in late April and really enjoyed it. We took the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano in the morning and then hiked to Nocelle. From Nocelle we picked up the bus to Positano and spent the afternoon in Positano.

The walk itself did not take too long (2 hours?) but you have to factor in the two short bus rides on either end. The path is well marked.

If you have a tight schedule, it would come down to whether you enjoy walking/outdoor activities as part of your vacation and have them as a priority. We definitely try to incorporate the outdoors, because the crowds can get to us at times (especially in places like the Amalfi coast towns).

Also consider the weather. The path is very exposed at parts, so you would not enjoy it as much on a hot day, or a rainy/windy one.

But the views are spectacular and there is a nice restaurant in Nocelle to stop for lunch and rest.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2014, 07:45 AM
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Mama_mia, questions for you: Were there any parts of the trail that were more diffcult, eg over rocks or slippery? How long did the bus take from Amalfi to Bomerano? Have looked at the bus route on a map and it's giving me pause re possible motion sickness. Grazie mille!
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Old Feb 2nd, 2014, 08:37 AM
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bon_voyage, my husband is sensitive to motion sickness, and he had a hard time on the AC bus. We even sat in the front seat, hoping that would help.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2014, 11:11 AM
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Jean, thanks very much for your reply. My son and I are both prone to motion sickness, and I'm seeing a very squiggly road from the coast up to Bomerano. A possible plan B is to ferry from Amalfi to Positano and then take the bus from Positano to Nocelle, walking back toward Montepertuso.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2014, 02:48 PM
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mama_mia - a further question.
You report that the path is very exposed in parts; would this present a problem for somebody who is not comfortable walking on pathways that lack any guardrails where there are steep fall aways?
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 01:56 AM
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SeeDee: easy to solve

The most exposed area is the lower option of the path, Cannati is the name, a vertical wall of 135mt! So, if you start from Bomerano (Agerola) you can take the higher option. After the rock pinnacle you'll get to "Colle Serra" crossroad, keep right just after a ruined house, on the rocky path. The panorama is the same but less vertical.

By the way the path is quite wide... obviously if you suffers a severe vertigos maybe Path of the Gods could be tought. You can check your limit at the beginning of the path, when the asphalt road finish, take a look down, to the sea. If you feel comfortable the higher option of the path won't scare you

DO NOT trust the guardrails, they are not "rock solid", some are too old, some are simply ruined. I live 30mt from the path, I'll do it 2-3 times for week so, please, trust me about the reliability if guardrails.

Just to let you know: there are some paths at the end of the coast, looking on Capri island and Naples gulf, without exposed parts (Athena loop trail & the path of the Sirenuse).

Hoping these infos helped you

KP
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 02:06 AM
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@bon_voyage, tips: going from Nocelle (430mt) to Bomerano (630mt) is the "hardest way" during hottest period (half july/end august), better in the first morning when the first part of the path is in shadow, before 08.30-09.00, or late afternoon, after 17:00, when you can be delighted by the sunset (sunset @ 20:32[15 july], 20:20[30 july], 20:02[15 august], 19:38[30 august], after sunset 30-40 mins of light are guaranteed).

KP
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 03:45 AM
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Re Bus ride from Amalfi to Bomerano: I think it was about 40-45 min. There are hairpin turns and you are climbing up the hill away from Amalfi. I am not sure how motion sickness responds to hairpins. I get nervous looking down at steep drop offs (I project the worst) but get over the feeling as we move on.

The same would go for the path and its more exposed parts. I remember feeling nervous in a few spots, but the whole path is not like that. Also, now that I think of it, 2-3 hrs is better idea of walking time.

I don't recall the parts that were high up being slippery--we had a beautiful dry day though.

If you google images path of the gods, you can see photos posted from other travelers that may give you a better idea of the path.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 10:18 AM
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Thank you, mama_mia, for those additional details about the bus trip (hairpin turns are not a happy thing) and the trail--very helpful! In 2004 I hiked from Riomaggiore to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre but that was then and this is now. Kestrelpov, grazie mille, you are right there! If we were to start in Nocelle, which seems much easier to access, we would not go to Bomerano but would walk back toward Montepertuso. Could plan the day to have lunch in either Nocelle or at La Tagliata in Montepertuso.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 11:25 AM
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@bon_voyage: if you start from Bomerano you could buy local products, there are some groceries just in Piazza Capasso, the start point of the path. Enjoy it and remember you can't loose on the path :
Nocelle to Bomerano => keep the sea on your right side
Bomerano to Nocelle => keep the sea on your left side.

KP
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 12:14 PM
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I have got to get my act together and write about my day on the path. I have some good photos, too.

The walk from Bomerano to Nocelle did not seem unsafe or too strenuous. It's trending downhill the whole way but I wouldn't call it steep. In a few places the stones underneath were a little loose but I didn't feel nervous or anything.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 12:41 PM
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Thanks, flygirl, sounds like the most difficult part would likely be the bus ride. Did you take the upper or lower part of the trail as described by kestralpov? I've been looking forward to your next installments, including your time in Naples.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 01:01 PM
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We walked the ridge the whole way - the upper path, I guess.

I wasn't paying attn on the bus ride, I might have even nodded off when we went from Amalfi to Bomerano (uphill)!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 04:19 PM
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 07:52 PM
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@ SeeDee - "would this present a problem for somebody who is not comfortable walking on pathways that lack any guardrails where there are steep fall aways?"

I'm not sure that my answer will be all that useful, but given this concern, I feel compelled to respond. Bottom line: Be sure you stay on the right trail!

I walked from magnificent Ravello to Amalfi a few years ago, and unfortunately, I took a wrong turn. As I recall, it was just before the town of Pontone -- instead of going forward along the main road and then turning onto a well-marked trail to the left, I inadvertently took an earlier side path to the left. As I recall, I made my way past a small church and then proceeded on a rather overgrown path. It was early spring, so I could understand that recent rains might have led to some more growth than might have been usual. I briefly questioned why this route, which I had thought was walked with some regularity, was so ill tended, but I thought maybe people don't walk that route very often any more. Walking, walking, taking pictures, walking, more pictures, walkin.... OMG, my right foot didn't stop when I expected it to! I VERY slowly stood back up (thank goodness I was younger and fitter and able to do so!) and repositioned myself. OMG -- I was walking along a stone wall that was once the edge of something. There was what looked like it might be solid ground to my left; there was nothing but air to my right, air so shrouded by shrubs and tree tops and various growing things that I had honestly not seen that there was no longer anything of substance even inches to that side of my path. As you might realize, it gave me pause! I took a very long moment to catch my breath, ensure the solidity of my footing, shift some weight from one shoulder to the other until I was confident in my balance, and then I slowly - very slowly -- turned around and walked slowly, very slowly, back in the direction from whence I had come. It didn't take long, but OMG, those were NOT moments I would care to relive! Obviously, I made it back safely and I enjoyed the rest of my walk -- once I got back on track.

SO, if you take this walk, please be sure you pay attention! If you find yourself in a place that seems too poorly traveled to be right, trust your instincts!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 08:37 PM
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Hi Alli,
I suffer from severe motion sickness. I have been able to ride the buses without issues usingTransdermscop. It's a patch you put behind your ear at least 4 hours before you travel. You will need a prescription from your Doctor. Hope this helps and have a wonder time!
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Old Feb 4th, 2014, 04:06 AM
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@kja: you were lucky, some sencondary paths around Pontone are very dangerous, steep and slippery. By the way the Path of the Gods is clean, well marked (red/white signs), well frequented and with few secondary paths.

@bon_voyage: surely the patch bxl4373 suggested will work (and I think is quite a must if you suffer of motion sickness) but read the infos about dizziness!

By the way on the site I mentioned above you can find a sort of trailbook, with indications and pictures. Go to "into the path >> from east to west >> from bomerano to nocelle".
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