The present study deals with modification of tungsten surface with high-intensity (similar to 10(15) W/cm(2)) femtosecond laser in air and vacuum surrounding. Specific findings include: (a) the applied intensities produce crater-like damages with depth similar to 31.0 mu m in vacuum and similar to 7.2 mu m in air; (b) peripheral region of the damages is diffuse in air atmosphere unlike vacuum where it is more sharply defined; (c) hydrodynamic features, while present in vacuum, are dramatically reduced in air; (d) characteristic chemical surface changes occur at the surface, and (e) plasma forms in front of the target in both surroundings. The obtained results imply that the employed intensities, in a certain sense, can be used for simulation of some processes in the fusion reactor and for highly precise material removal and tungsten surface processing (by fine tuning of given fs laser parameters).