This paper describes an experimental investigation on the flow characteristics within a rotating cylinder containing a rolling bed of sand. The axis of the cylinder was horizontal and there was no axial bulk flow of particles. The velocity field of the gas flowing through the cylinder was measured by hot-wire anemometry. The measurements indicate that the velocity field is asymmetric with respect to a diameter perpendicular to the granular bed. CFD calculations confirm this finding. The gas velocity profiles are crucial in determining heat transfer from gas to solid.