Those not fond of organized tourism can find countless places at Saaremaa to have one-on-one encounters with nature. In summer, one can start with the beautiful north shore beaches of cold water and a rocky seafloor.
In autumn, mysterious marshes covering one tenth of the whole island, are breathtaking with a riot of colour. The Harilaid Peninsula is a place where a nature enthusiast needs to explore. It is famous for its leaning lighthouse and variety of plants. The junipers, growing triangular in the salty sea winds, form odd-shaped patterns on the beach. Another part of the island one should include is the whole Sorve Peninsula. Saaremaa’s famous juniper marshes, old coastal forts, the end of the peninsula with its beautiful lighthouse that seems like the end of the world - all of that may be the highlight of your entire visit to Saaremaa.
The Western Europeans appreciate the untouched nature in Saaremaa. Hunters from many countries have been surprised at the size of our forests when finding the first copse of woods.
Saaremaa has maintained much of its forests and marshes compared to many other countries that have lost much of their natural flora and fauna.
The animals in the forests of Saaremaa are sometimes problems for the farmers - some countrymen have to shoot a wild boar from their doorsteps every other week to have something left in their potato fields. There arc about 1 500 wild boars running around the forests, around a thousand moose and four thousand roe deer. When spending enough time in the woods, there is the possibility of meeting a wolf of a beaver.