I hiked the Path of the Gods on Italy's Amalfi Coast. Here's how to plan for this incredible trip.

09.10.2023 - 12:04 / insider.com / Amalfi Coast

The Path of the Gods on Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world, but it's also really difficult to get to.

Known as Sentiero degli Dei in Italian, the path starts in a small village high in the mountains and takes you down to the coastal town of Positano. 

On a 25-day trip through Italy, my husband and I prioritized this epic yet difficult-to-coordinate hike. Here's how I recommend preparing for the trip. 

The Path of the Gods is a point-to-point hike, which means you'll end at a different location than you started.

Because the hike is all about the stunning views below — and we didn't want to be utterly exhausted on our relaxing Amalfi Coast trip — we started at the top of the trail in Bomerano and hiked down the mountainside to Nocelle.

After reaching Nocelle, we walked down to Positano, one of the most popular towns on the Amalfi Coast. 

In theory, you can hike the other way, but it's much more strenuous. Plus, it leaves you with your back toward the best views. 

Arranging transportation to the start of the hike is stressful. Most people stay along the coast, far from the starting point, and don't have a car. Depending on the time of year, driving on the Amalfi Coast is highly discouraged for tourists.

One option is a SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano, but these buses are often unreliable — and if you're not staying in Amalfi proper, you first have to take a ferry or bus to the town. Plus, relying on a bus means you can't start the hike on your own, and starting early (and on time) is crucial. 

Friends of ours waited several hours for the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano, but it never showed, so they couldn't complete the hike. 

Instead of gambling on a bus, we hired a private driver from our hotel in Sorrento, who dropped us off in Bomerano. It was admittedly expensive (about $200) but stress-free and convenient. 

Our driver was fantastic. He showed up early, had great food recommendations for Positano and Sorrento, and got us to the hike quickly and safely despite the treacherous winding roads.

If you're doing the Path of the Gods as the full point-to-point hike, it also means you'll need to arrange additional transportation at the end of the hike.

Getting picked up at 6 a.m. didn't leave any room for coffee, and by the time our driver dropped us off in Bomerano to start the hike, we were ready to go back to sleep. 

Luckily, the village of Bomerano has a few cafés to grab an espresso or two and use the restroom if needed. From the cafés, we walked 10 to 15 minutes to the start of the trail.

An early-morning wake-up call isn't consistent with a relaxing vacation on the Amalfi Coast, but it's ideal when doing the Path of the Gods. 

When hiking early, you get gorgeous views of