Best Sand Desert
The Rub’ al Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, is the world's largest continuous sandy desert. Located primarily in Saudi Arabia it covers vast areas of Yemen, Oman and the UAE. Its extreme aridity and immense dune formations make it a unique geological feature. Researchers and explorers studyi...
Why this score?
Largest continuous sand desert, globally iconic for scale, dunes, exploration history, and extreme environmental character.
Scoring methodology
The Kubuqi Desert is a sandy desert in Inner Mongolia, China, located north of the Ordos region and near the Yellow River. It is commonly identified as China’s seventh-largest desert. The area has also been used for large-scale vegetation-restoration and afforestation projects intended to stabilize...
Why this score?
Large dune landscape with notable restoration projects, though industrial pressures and limited global prominence temper assessments.
Scoring methodology
The Saryesik-Atyrau Desert is a sandy desert region in southeastern Kazakhstan associated with the basin of Lake Balkhash. Its sands extend across the area between the eastern and western parts of the lake, and the desert is commonly described as a geographic divide between those two portions. The l...
Why this score?
Impressive Kazakh sand expanse and ecological value, offset by sparse tourism infrastructure and limited international reputation.
Scoring methodology
The Ulan Buh Desert is a major sand desert in southwestern Inner Mongolia, China, within the wider Alxa desert region and the Hetao basin. It lies near the Yellow River and the agricultural Hetao Plain, and its landscape contains high and low dune zones, former lake deposits, and dry wetland areas....
Why this score?
Substantial dune desert bordering the Yellow River, valued regionally but affected by development and ecological degradation.
Scoring methodology
The Ryn Desert, also called the Ryn Sands, is a sandy desert region around the lower Volga and the northern Caspian Sea. It lies mainly in western Kazakhstan and extends into southern Russia. The landscape includes extensive dunes and other dryland features, while its continental climate produces ma...
Why this score?
Distinctive sandy lowland with ecological interest, but modest scenery reputation and little broad public recognition.
Scoring methodology
Palace of Beaulieu, also known as Beaulieu Palace, is a former royal residence in Essex, England. Henry VIII acquired the property in 1516 and developed it as part of the royal estate during the Tudor period. The surviving historic site is now occupied by New Hall School, while the former palace com...
Why this score?
Substantial Kazakh dune system holds ecological and geomorphological interest, but receives little international attention or tourism.
Scoring methodology
The Lesser Barsuki Desert is a sandy desert region in Kazakhstan situated just south of the Greater Barsuki, noted for its harsh climate and sparse vegetation.
Why this score?
Regionally distinctive dunes and harsh steppe ecology offer specialist interest, with minimal recognition and fewer standout features.
Scoring methodology
