Path of the Gods from Sorrento: Bomerano to Nocelle

The Path of the Gods is not a stroll in Positano. The recognised lower route runs from Bomerano, a hamlet of Agerola, to Nocelle above Positano. From Sorrento, reaching the start and getting home can take as much planning as the walk.

What the route data says

Published route data for CAI path 327 between Bomerano and Nocelle grades it E, for hikers, and gives roughly 5.5 kilometres and two to three hours on foot from Bomerano to Nocelle, mostly downhill: a highest point of around 630 to 650 metres and a descent of about 350 metres. Sources differ by a few hundred metres in length and a few tens of metres in height, so treat the figures as approximate. Other visitor routes quote longer distances because they include access through the villages or the continuation towards Positano.

Walk from Bomerano towards Nocelle for the generally descending direction and coast views ahead. The surface is rocky and uneven, with exposed edges. This is not suitable for pushchairs, and anyone uncomfortable with heights should not be reassured by the modest distance.

The Nocelle decision

The marked trail ends in Nocelle, not on Positano beach. Continuing on foot involves a very long stair descent, commonly described as around 1,500 steps. The alternative is local transport from Nocelle. Decide before the hike; exhausted knees are a poor time to discover the difference.

Carry water and use proper footwear. There is little dependable shade on exposed sections. In heavy rain, strong wind or extreme heat, choose another day and check the current trail status with local authorities.

Independent or guided from Sorrento

Independent travel is possible, but it means coordinating buses through the coast or arranging a transfer to Bomerano and a return from the Positano side. The guided Path of the Gods hike with Sorrento transfer starts at €75 and has 160 reviews. Its value is not admission—the path itself is free—but removing the awkward transport problem and adding route guidance.

A second guided hike and transfer starts at €90.25 and has 102 reviews. Compare the exact start, group size, return point and whether the descent to Positano is included rather than choosing on title alone.

For confident hikers with a flexible day, travelling independently is rewarding and cheaper. For a short stay, the €75 guided transfer is the sensible default because it protects the day from the hardest connections. If exposure, steps or heat sound unpleasant, choose a coast boat trip instead; the view is different, but the decision is honest.