Deserts are not all sand. A desert is just a place that is low on plant and animal life and has low amounts of rain. Antarctica and the Arctic are deserts. Go to parts of North Africa and the desert isn't sand but bloomin' big sharp rocks that rip tyres on your Landie to shreds!
Mind you if you want lots of sand you can't beat certain beaches in Aussie that are over 400 miles of non-stop sand 8-)